The Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy has been very active in 2023, promoting sustainable fishing, youth engagement in fishing and investment in the industry among others.

The Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS) in January invited investors to apply for the Blue Investment Fund aimed at supporting the expansion of sustainable fisheries in Seychelles.

The bank’s chief executive, Jean Preira, made the call at its Blue Investment cocktail evening at the Eden Bleu hotel. The event, organised by DBS in collaboration with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and Swiofish, was to meet with potential clients of the Blue Investment Fund (BIF) and explain the concept of the fund so as to entice them.

Also in January, young Seychellois researchers who participated in the Monaco Explorations expedition in October and November 2022 were recognised and applauded in a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy. The six-strong team of female scientists partook in the first leg from Reunion Island to Aldabra, Seychelles, along with eleven other participants who experienced the second leg from Seychelles to Mauritius, the Saya de Malha bank and St Brandon. They were presented with certificates of participation by chief executive of the Oceanographic Institute Foundation Albert I, Prince of Monaco and managing director of the expedition, Robert Calcagno, and Minister Jean-François Ferrari.

February

The Danny Faure Foundation signed a partnership agreement with the Fisheries Transparency Initiative as part of a shared vision to promote sustainable marine fisheries in the Indian Ocean through transparency and collective action.

Licensed fishermen engaged in harvesting sea cucumbers were encouraged by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) to apply for applications to harvest the species outside of Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone, given that Seychelles and Mauritius were to undertake sustainable exploratory harvesting of the echinoderms in the Mascarene Plateau region. The two countries, which share joint jurisdiction of the area, reached an agreement for the exploratory harvesting of the species last year after two years of discussions.

The FiTI International Board recognised and congratulated Seychelles’ efforts to implement the FiTI Standard with a score of ‘meaningful progress’ in the first validation of the Indian Ocean archipelago. This was in regards to Seychelles’ actions to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the FiTI implementation standards in terms of improving transparency around the management of its marine fisheries sector.

The committee for the Mahé Plateau Line and Trap Fishery Co-Management Plan (ICCP) also met to discuss further the progression of the plan for the sustainability of the marine resources on the plateau, especially for the sustainability of especially the Red Snapper and Job fish (Job Gri) which were being overfished.

Boat owners making use of the Victoria Fishing Port had access to a new fuel depot that was officially inaugurated by Designated Minister and Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-François Ferrari, and French ambassador to Seychelles, Olivia Berkeley-Christman. The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) took the initiative to demolish the old, dilapidated depot back in 2018 and build a new and modern fuel depot and increase its capacity, to cater for the 77 registered boat owners that purchase fuel at the Victoria Fuel Depot.

March

Fisheries practitioners from the SouthWest Indian Ocean (SWIO) region gathered in Seychelles for a two-day regional workshop aimed at enhancing awareness of the importance of transparency for sustainable fisheries management. The workshop, entitled ‘Promoting Transparency for Sustainable Marine Fisheries through Collective Actions in the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) Region’, was held at the Eden Bleu Hotel, Eden Island, from March 29 – 30.

April

Fisheries ministers and other senior representatives from governments and private sectors of the South Western Indian Ocean region – Seychelles, Kenya, Comoros and Tanzania, including Zanzibar – met at the Eden Bleu Hotel, Eden Island, to discuss the management of tuna fishing in the region. The focus was to emphasise the need for closer cooperation and collaboration in matters to put forward at the next Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting, especially with regard to the 72-day ban on fish aggregating devices (FADs) each year.

Seychelles received a new patrol vessel from the Japanese government, which is being used by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) in its enforcement activities. It was the chargé d’affaires from the Japanese embassy, Ambassador Kato Eiji, who handed over the keys of the patrol vessel to the Designated Minister, who is also responsible for Fisheries and Blue Economy, Jean François Ferrari, during a short ceremony at the Artisanal Fishing Port in Victoria.

The Islands Development Company Ltd (IDC) handed over 650 kilogrammes of white shrimps to the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) hypermarket for sale. The first batch of shrimps came in 400g and 800g boxes, with the prices varying from R96 to R294 according to the sizes. The shrimps were also on sale on Praslin and La Digue.

May

A group of 18 former secondary five (S5) students who were not accepted at professional centres of their choice earlier this year followed a four-month course on sustainable fisheries for future seafarers. The course was conducted by the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) in a joint collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy. The 18 boys and girls were contacted by the Ministry and given another chance, after failing to qualify for post-secondary institutions.

The first Youth Tuna Conference was organised at the ‘At Sea P.A.L.M.S’ restaurant, Ile Perseverance  as part of activities to commemorate World Tuna Day.Two students and one teacher from all secondary schools across the country, Seychelles Maritime Academy and the Seychelles Institute of Technology were invited to take part in the one-day conference, where the objective was to educate and raise the level of interest of the participants in the different areas, jobs and responsibilities related to the tuna industry.

July

Artisanal fishery on Praslin received a big boost with the opening of new and modern fishing port and related facilities in the heart of Baie Ste Anne.The modern facilities comprises a fish and vegetable market, a meat processing area for locally produced products, 12 gear stores, an ice plant, a fish landing shed, fish shop, gear shop, offices, electrical rooms and a conference room.

The Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) developed under the Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project (SWIOFish) was officially launched at the Savoy Seychelles Resort and Spa, Beau Vallon. The new software, administered by the Seychelles Fishing Authority, is an innovative step forward in the management and accessibility of fisheries information not only for those working directly in the industry, but also for stakeholders including the general public.

August

Cabinet approved a moratorium on the importation and chartering of longline fishing vessels for use in the semi-industrial tuna fishery, with immediate effect until June 2024. Speaking to the local media during the live cabinet press conference, Vice-President Ahmed Afif said cabinet has found this decision necessary given the numerous challenges in the sector such as congestion in the fishing ports due to lack of berthing space; capacity for the provision of inputs such as ice; capacity to accommodate foreign crew as currently the fleet is entirely crewed by foreigners and a lack of clear development and management strategies for the small scale longline fishery.

September

Marissa Antha and Abel Sorry were the first two Seychellois recipients to be granted European Union scholarships to further their studies at Master’s level in Sustainable Fisheries Management at the University of Alicante, Spain.

November

The Saya de Malha vessel of the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) left Port Victoria for its third drifting Fishing Aggregate Devices (dFAD) expedition clean-up exercise in Seychelles territorial waters and shores of the outer islands. As is customary since the first expedition in October 2022, there were six students from Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) – including a lecturer, a representative of the Island Conservation Society Seychelles (ICS), a scientist and an observer from the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), joining the military crew onboard for the recovery exercise.

Seychelles joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Fisheries Day held under the theme ‘Harmony beneath the Waves, Sustainability in Our Hands’, designated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Locally, the event was marked by the official opening of Fisheries Week at the Seychelles Maritime Academy in Providence with also saw the unveiling of the department of Fisheries new logo.

The search for the three men from Takamaka who went missing at sea since Wednesday, November 15, was suspended. The announcement was made by the search party comprising of the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA, the police, the Seychelles Coast guard and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) during a press conference at the SMSA headquarters, at Trinity House.

David Suzette, 61, from Takamaka, 37-year-old Hansley Denis, and Steve Burka, 36, both from Quatre Bornes went fishing on board Gran Pye on November 15.

Compiled by Patrick Joubert