1.   The Parties hereby undertake to promote responsible fishing in Gabonese waters on the basis of the principles of non-discrimination between the different fleets fishing in those waters, without prejudice to the agreements concluded between developing countries within a geographical region, including reciprocal fisheries agreements.

2.   The Parties shall cooperate with a view to implementing a sectoral fisheries policy adopted by the Government of Gabon and to that end shall initiate a policy dialogue on the necessary reforms. They shall consult with a view to adopting potential measures in this area.

3.   The Parties shall also cooperate in carrying out ex ante, ongoing and ex post evaluations, both jointly and unilaterally, of measures, programmes and actions implemented on the basis of this Agreement.

4.   The Parties hereby undertake to ensure that this Agreement is implemented in accordance with the principles of good economic and social governance, respecting the state of fish stocks.

5.   In particular, the employment of Gabonese and/or ACP seamen on board Community vessels shall be governed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which shall apply as of right to the corresponding contracts and general terms of employment. This concerns in particular the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

1.   During the period covered by this Agreement, the Community and Gabon shall endeavour to monitor the evolution of resources in the Gabonese fishing zone.

2.   The two Parties, on the basis of the recommendations and resolutions adopted within the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and in the light of the best available scientific advice, shall consult each other within the Joint Committee provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement and adopt, where appropriate after a scientific meeting and by mutual agreement, measures to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources affecting the activities of Community vessels.

3.   The parties undertake to consult one other, either directly, including at subregional level within COREP (Regional Fisheries Committee for the Gulf of Guinea (COREP), or within the competent international organisations, to ensure the management and conservation of living resources in the Atlantic Ocean, and to cooperate in the relevant scientific research.

1.   Gabon undertakes to authorise Community vessels to engage in fishing activities in its fishing zone in accordance with this Agreement, including the Protocol and Annex thereto.

2.   The fishing activities governed by this Agreement shall be subject to the laws and regulations in force in Gabon. The Gabonese authorities shall notify the Commission of any amendments to that legislation.

3.   Gabon shall take all the appropriate steps required for the effective application of the fisheries monitoring provisions in the Protocol. Community vessels shall cooperate with the Gabonese authorities responsible for carrying out such monitoring.

4.   The Community undertakes to take all the appropriate steps required to ensure that its vessels comply with this Agreement and the legislation governing fisheries in the waters over which Gabon has jurisdiction.

1.   Community vessels may fish in the Gabonese fishing zone only if they are in possession of a fishing licence issued under this Agreement and the Protocol hereto.

2.   The procedure for obtaining a fishing licence for a vessel, the taxes applicable and the method of payment to be used by shipowners shall be as set out in the Annex to the Protocol.

1.   The Community shall grant Gabon a financial contribution in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down in the Protocol and Annexes. This single contribution shall be based on two elements, namely:

2.   The element of the financial contribution referred to in paragraph 1(a) above shall be determined in the light of objectives identified by common accord between the Parties in accordance with the Protocol, to be achieved in the context of the sectoral fisheries policy drawn up by the Gabonese Government and an annual and multiannual programme for its implementation.

3.   The financial contribution granted by the Community shall be paid each year in accordance with the Protocol and subject to this Agreement and the Protocol in the event of any change to the amount of the contribution as a result of:

1.   The Parties shall encourage economic, scientific and technical cooperation in the fisheries sector and related sectors. They shall consult one another with a view to coordinating the different measures that might be taken to this end.

2.   The Parties undertake to promote exchanges of information on fishing techniques and gear, preservation methods and the industrial processing of fisheries products.

3.   The Parties shall endeavour to create conditions favourable to the promotion of relations between their enterprises in the technical, economic and commercial spheres, by encouraging the establishment of an environment favourable to the development of business and investment.

4.   The Parties shall encourage, in particular, the setting-up of joint enterprises in their mutual interest which shall systematically comply with Gabonese and Community legislation.

1.   A Joint Committee shall be set up to monitor the application of this Agreement. The Joint Committee shall perform the following functions:

2.   The Joint Committee shall meet at least once a year, alternately in Gabon and in the Community, and shall be chaired by the Party hosting the meeting. It shall hold a special meeting at the request of either of the Parties.

1.   Application of this Agreement may be suspended at the initiative of one of the Parties in the event of a serious disagreement as to the application of provisions laid down in the Agreement. Suspension of application of the Agreement shall require the interested Party to notify its intention in writing at least three months before the date on which suspension is due to take effect. On receipt of this notification, the Parties shall enter into consultations with a view to resolving their differences amicably.

2.   Payment of the financial contribution referred to in Article 7 shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis, according to the duration of the suspension.

1.   This Agreement may be terminated by either Party in the event of unusual circumstances such as the degradation of the stocks concerned, the discovery of a reduced level of exploitation of the fishing opportunities granted to Community vessels, or failure to comply with undertakings made by the Parties with regard to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

2.   The Party concerned shall notify the other Party in writing of its intention to withdraw from the Agreement at least six months before the date of expiry of the initial period or each additional period.

3.   Dispatch of the notification referred to in the previous paragraph shall open consultations by the Parties.

4.   Payment of the financial contribution referred to in Article 7 for the year in which the termination takes effect shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis.