Press Release: European Union and Gabon initial new fisheries partnership agreement and protocol

The European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, and Gabon on 1 December 2005 initialled a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) for a period of six years, which was to become effective on 3 December 2005. The new Protocol under the FPA provided for tuna fishing opportunities for 40 Community vessels, in return for an EU annual financial contribution of € 860,000, of which 60% was earmarked for support to the Gabonese national fishing policy.