Brussels, 13/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - With its adoption on Tuesday 13 January of the report by Alain Cadec (EPP, France), the European Parliament approved conclusion of an agreement between the EU and the Seychelles on access by vessels flying the Seychelles flag to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte.
Relations between the EU and the Republic of the Seychelles in the area of fisheries are governed by a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA). This tuna SFPA came into force on 10 May 2003 and has been renewed twice since then. The agreement approved by Parliament (initialled on 3 April 2014) provides access to an area between 24 miles and 100 miles to eight tuna purse-seine vessels and two supply vessels flying the Seychelles flag for a six-year period that can be renewed (see EUROPE 11063). The 0-to-24 mile area is reserved for local Mahoran fishing.
This agreement allows a limited number of Seychelles-flagged vessels that have a tradition of fishing in Mayotte's waters to continue to fish in Mayotte's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The territory of Mayotte acquired the status of an outermost region of the European Union on 1 January 2014. Before this change in status, a private agreement governed relations between European and Seychelles fishing vessels in Mayotte. (LC)