Sport Fisheries

The sport fishery is regulated by the Fisheries Act. Certain sport fishing activities are also subject to regulations under the Mahé Plateau Trap and Line Fishery Co-management Plan ( ‘the MP Plan’), which came into effect in January 2022.

The main differences between recreational fishing and sport fishing, as described in the Fisheries Act, relate to the size of the vessel involved (less than 10m for recreational fishing, not more than 40m for sport fishing) and that sport fishing can only be conducted by vessels which have been hired, chartered, or leased.

More clarification on the specific differences will be addressed in a legislative review currently being undertaken.

Yes. A sport fishing vessel permit must be requested from the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA).

The license fees for sport fishing vessels are paid in the form of hire craft (HC) licences. The Control of Hire Craft Act defines a Hire Craft as “a boat let out for hire for fishing as a sport or for pleasure purposes only”, therefore implying that payment of the licence gives hire craft the right to fish.
Currently, the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) issue HC permits that is inclusive of fishing. However, the SFA is doing the needful to ensure that all fishing permits are issued by SFA.

The current licence fees themselves vary, depending on the length of the vessel in question, and need to be paid to the Seychelles Licensing Authority as per the schedule fees of the Licences Act (2010). These fees are detailed in Section 1 (v) of the Act.

 

  1 year

  3 years

  3m or less

  SCR 500

  SCR 1,410

  3m-6m

  SCR 1,500

  SCR 4,230

  6m-9m

  SCR 4,000

  SCR 11,280

  9m-12m

  SCR 6,000

  SCR 16,920

  12-20m

  SCR 8,000

  SCR 22,560

  Over 20m

  SCR 10,000

  SCR 28,200

The above fees double in cases where the person applying for the sport fishing vessel permit is not Seychellois.

At present the SFA is not charging these fees and sports vessels are not required to seek permission to fish. The SFA states that they are working on a licensing framework for the sport and recreational fishery.

The use of spearguns, explosives, poisons, and noxious substances is prohibited across all fisheries in Seychelles, including the recreational fishery. The Fisheries Act also bans the use of unauthorised fish aggregating devices. As [large] net fishing is a licensable activity, the use of large nets is not allowed as part of recreational fishing. The use of demersal trawl nets is also prohibited under the Fisheries Regulations (1987). The Fisheries (Mahé Plateau Trap and Line Fishery) Regulations, 2021 limits the number of fish traps to two per vessel for recreational fishers... Additionally, a minimum mesh size of 40mm for traps is applicable across all sub-sectors.

The validity of a sport fishing vessel permit ranges from between one and three years, depending upon the sum paid when applying (see table above).

No.

Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA)

The main gear type used in the sport fishery is trolling, however, some handline fishing for demersal species is also conducted. There are currently few limits on use of fishing gear in the sport fishery.

The use of spearguns, explosives, poisons, and noxious substances is prohibited across all fisheries in Seychelles, including the sport fishery. The Fisheries Act also bans the use of unauthorised fish aggregating devices.

Currently no. However, restrictions exist for Marine Protected Areas. However, more restrictions will be introduced with the Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) exercise.

Trap fishing is restricted to Commercial fishers and recreational fishers. Not Sport Fishers.

The MP Plan provides for an upper limit of five Bourzwa (emperor red snapper) per day and five Zob gris (green jobfish) per day for sport fishers.

The MP Plan will further limits the total number of fish (demersal species) a sport fisher can catch in one day to a maximum of 20 per fisher.

There are no additional restrictions regarding the main species targeted by the sport fishery (wahoo, dolphin fish, sailfish, tuna and marlin).

However, in terms of restrictions on demersal species, the MP Plan will requires all fishers (including sport fishers) to return to the water any Bourzwa (emperor red snapper) or Zob gris (green jobfish) that measure less than 32 cm in fork length (from the tip of jaw/snout to the centre of the fork in the tail).

Yes. While there are no specific conditions concerning catch reporting for the sport fishery, Article 7 (2) of the Fisheries Act makes it a requirement for anyone engaged in fishing and fishing-related activities to provide information regarding their activities (including catch, effort, fishing locations, landing and transshipment) to the SFA when requested.

No. Sport fishing and sport fishing competitions should not result in the trading, offering for sale or selling of fish. Catch can be used for charitable purposes (sale, donation) with the authorisation of the SFA.

Yes. Such a permit needs to be requested from the SFA. Only holders of a sport fishing vessel permit may apply for a permit to organise a sport fishing competition.