Aquaculture projects in Gabon: fisheries code and EIE approval
A Gabonese aquaculture project needs authorisation under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Code of 2005 and must follow the 2021 decree setting the conditions for exercising aquaculture. Most commercial-scale projects also require an environmental impact study (Etude d'Impact sur l'Environnement) approved by the ministry responsible for the environment before works begin. Confirm the current procedure with the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the environment ministry before ordering equipment.
XAF · Central African CFA franc
t/year · kg · ha · m³ · m³/h · °C · kW · kWh
Fisheries and aquaculture authorisation
- Law No. 015/2005 of 8 August 2005 established the Fisheries and Aquaculture Code for Gabon, applying to continental and maritime fishing and related operations, and sets out the general principle that no one may exploit public fishery resources without a prior authorisation issued under conditions the law defines [3](https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gab65652.pdf). Decree No. 00181/PR/MAEPA of 12 July 2021 sets the specific modalities and conditions for exercising aquaculture in Gabon, issued under this Code, and is administered with the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture [2](https://journal-officiel.ga/17564-00181-pr-maepa/).
- Confirm with the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture (within the ministry responsible for agriculture, livestock and fisheries) the current application documents, any applicable fee and whether a separate agency, the planned Agence Nationale des Pêches et de l'Aquaculture (ANPA), now administers aquaculture licensing in practice [5](https://www.agriculture.gouv.ga/8-ministere/300-textes-juridiques/).
Environmental impact study and site/water evidence
- Decree No. 000539/PR/MEFEPEPN of 15 July 2005 regulates environmental impact studies in Gabon, implementing the 1993 law on environmental protection; a manual of general procedure from the Ministry of Environment sets out the administrative and technical steps a project proponent must follow to obtain the required environmental authorisation [4](https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/Gab175563.pdf). Projects near or within national parks' buffer zones also follow guidance developed with the Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux (ANPN) for environmental impact studies in those zones [2](https://www.biotope.fr/gabon/PROD/BIOTOPE_PAGOS_Guide_Manuel_ZTPN_V01_20150409.pdf).
- For a coastal or lagoon cage project, provide bathymetry, water-quality and current data, access and a mooring study. For an inland pond project (tilapia or catfish are the realistic commercial species), provide dry-season water availability, intake/drainage elevation and soil evidence; confirm which EIE threshold or a lighter environmental notice applies to the project's scale.
Equipment delivery to Libreville and inland sites
- Request delivery to the actual farm, including the agreed route from Libreville's port or airport, inland transport, unloading and a spare-parts plan. A port price is not an installed-farm price; confirm transit, customs and import procedures independently.
- Compare pond, cage and treatment equipment as separate work packages against measured site conditions. No production, survival or revenue figure is implied by this guide.
Gabon project brief checklist
For the Gabon site, include province and coordinates, legal applicant and site/water rights, species/life stage, intended annual harvest and peak biomass, aquaculture authorisation status under the 2005 Code and 2021 decree, EIE or environmental notice status, measured seasonal water data, intake/discharge or mooring layout, power and backup, access/delivery point, quote currency and budget. Attach the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture correspondence and the environmental impact study documentation described above, and mark every unconfirmed assumption. Separate studies/applications, civil works, equipment, installation and acceptance responsibilities. FishMatch reviews commercial projects of USD 250,000 or more by hand; smaller projects can still use the free planning tools.
Request private project reviewCalculate from your measured site inputs
Gabon buyer questions
Which local issue should I resolve first in Gabon?
Confirm aquaculture authorisation with the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture under the 2005 Fisheries and Aquaculture Code and the 2021 aquaculture decree, and check with the ministry responsible for the environment whether an environmental impact study is required for the proposed scale and site.
Does a recirculating system remove site and water requirements?
No. Confirm site use, water abstraction, discharge, animal health and the applicable environmental procedure separately. The designer must use the actual species, water resource and permit conditions.
Will FishMatch expose supplier contacts or forward the brief automatically?
No. Project requests are private and human-reviewed; supplier identities and contacts remain confidential and there is no automatic supplier routing. Procurement assistance is for commercial projects of USD 250,000 or more; the planning tools remain free.
Institutional and legal references
- Loi N° 015/2005 portant Code des pêches et de l'aquaculture — FAOLEX
- Décret N° 00181/PR/MAEPA du 12/07/2021 fixant les modalités d'exercice de l'Aquaculture — Journal Officiel
- Ministère de l'Agriculture — Textes juridiques (Code des pêches, ANPA)
- Manuel de procédure générale des Etudes d'Impact sur l'Environnement — Ministère de l'Environnement (FAOLEX)
Prepared 16 October 2026 from the linked institutional and legal references. This is editorial planning guidance, not a legal opinion, local engineering design, approval or independent expert sign-off. Laws and administrative procedures can change; confirm the consolidated rules and site-specific applicability before committing capital. No verified local tariffs, project prices, production gains or market-demand measurements are asserted.