VICTORIA, Seychelles — The sixth Joint Committee Meeting under the Implementing Protocol 2020-2026 of the EU-Seychelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), combined with the third joint committee meeting on the agreement for access of EU-flagged fishing vessels to Seychelles waters around Mayotte, was held in Victoria from June 24 to 26.
The European Union delegation was led by Luis Molledo, Head of Unit for Trade Negotiations and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The Seychelles delegation was led by Roy Clarisse, principal secretary for Fisheries in the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy. Both parties reviewed implementation of the two agreements and expressed satisfaction with their partnership of more than four decades.
Special attention was given to sectoral support for small-scale fisheries, the two parties’ joint work at international level against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and collaboration with Indian Ocean regional fisheries management organisations. The meeting was earmarked to promote sustainable fishing policy and sector development through the financial support provided under the sectoral support programme.
