During a working session on Monday, January 12, 2026, in Libreville, the Minister of the Sea, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Aimé Martial Massamba, and his teams reviewed a pirate attack on a Gabonese vessel off Ekwata and prepared for the Ministerial Steering Committee meeting scheduled for January 15, which will focus in particular on the fishing agreement with the European Union.
The recent attack on a Gabonese-flagged industrial fishing vessel, which occurred overnight from January 10 to 11 about seven miles southwest of Ekwata in national waters, was central to the discussions. The incident renewed concerns regarding maritime insecurity and the protection of stakeholders in the blue economy. In response to this persistent threat, the minister instructed the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture to work on establishing a mixed rapid intervention brigade, in coordination with other state services, to strengthen surveillance of sensitive areas and secure fishing activities.
At the same time, the meeting allowed for anticipation of the issues to be addressed by the Ministerial Steering Committee on January 15, chaired by the Vice President of the government. Three major topics will be at the center of discussions: the denunciation of the fishing agreement with the European Union, the strategy for the development of the fisheries sector, and its implementation plan. The minister demanded the preparation of a complete and rigorous technical dossier, urging his teams to be proactive and to develop a detailed presentation framework to guide the committee’s inter-ministerial decisions.
Long confronted with the combined challenges of maritime piracy, illegal fishing, and underutilization of its fishery resources, Gabon seeks to reaffirm sovereignty over its waters and to rethink its strategic partnerships. The January 12 meeting is part of a broader effort to reform maritime governance and secure the blue economy, a key sector for economic diversification and the creation of sustainable jobs.
