Commercial Fisheries - Semi Industrial Fishery - Sea Cucumber Fishery

A local fishing (artisanal or semi-industrial) licence costs SCR 500. A sea cucumber fishing licence costs SCR 7,000. A sea cucumber processing licence costs SCR 20,000.

All licences for the sea cucumber fishery are valid for the duration of the season. Previously licenced vessels are given priority for receiving a new licence.

No, none of the licences for the sea cucumber fishery are transferable.

The Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA)

Sea cucumbers are typically harvested by hand using SCUBA. Each licenced sea cucumber fishing vessel is restricted to using a maximum of four divers (+1 apprentice diver). There are no other gear restrictions specifically targeting the sea cucumber fishery, although the use of spearguns, explosives, poisons, and noxious substances is prohibited (across all fisheries including the sea cucumber fishery).

The sea cucumber fishing season is generally open mid-September to mid-May. The exact dates are considered based on the consultative processes that occur between stakeholders and the SFA at the approach of the new season.

The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is set in reference to the 2016 base year at a total of 375,000 pieces, only for three harvestable sea cucumber species. The TAC and non-transferable quota was first introduced during the 2017/2018 fishing season. The breakdown of the TAC is highlighted in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Breakdown of quota distribution per species and per vessel

 

Flower Teatfish

Prickly Redfish

White Teatfish

Total

Pieces per species

281,250

37,500

56,250

375,000

Pieces per vessel

11,250

1,500

2,250

15,000

The TAC was reviewed by the SFA in 2021, as per the Cabinet Memorandum 2017- New Management Measures for Sea Cucumber Fishery. Under Point 5. Total Allowable Catch, subpoint 5.5- ‘The TAC will be reviewed after three years or three consecutive opening seasons.’

Upon this review, upon consultation, the Ministry and the Board of the SFA recommend a 10% reduction of the Flower Teatfish. The quota allocation for 2021 was;

 

Flower Teatfish

Prickly redfish

White Teatfish

Total

Pieces per species

253,125

37,500

56,250

346,875

Pieces per vessel

10,125

1,500

2,250

13,875

The SFA further review the TAC in 2022, following recommendations from the 2021 independent assessment of the sea cucumber fishery, which included complete closure of the white teatfish for the next 3 years, intoduction of a quota of 4,000 pieces of golden sandfish per vessel, a 20% increase in the prickly redfish quota and a 5% reduction in the flower teatfish quota. The quota for 2022 is :

 

Flower Teatfish

Prickly Teatfish

White Teatfish

 

Total

Pieces per species

240,475

45,000

0

100,000

385,475

Pieces per vessel

 9,619

1,800

0

 4,000

 15,419

No.

The licence conditions associated with the processing of sea cucumbers are as follows:

➢ Applicants must be a Seychellois citizen;

➢ An export permit is required to export sea cucumbers;

➢ At export, the levy payable is $2 per kilo;

➢ At export, the consignment shall be jointly certified and sealed by the SFA and Customs Officers;

➢ The processor or export licence holder is entitled to retain 50% of the foreign exchange earned from the exports. This money must be held in a foreign exchange account in Seychelles;

➢ The processor must keep records of their purchases, processed and exports of sea cucumbers;

➢ The operators must duly complete the Purchase Receipt Book provided for any purchase of sea cucumbers;

➢ The processor must permit regular checks of the records of their purchases, and processed sea cucumbers. During storage, the verified and unverified sea cucumbers shall be kept in separate containers. Re-verification will take place prior to export;

➢ Stocks of sea cucumbers (wet and dried) must only be kept at the premises as identified on the licence;

➢ The processor or exporter shall only export dried sea cucumbers;

➢ Non-compliance with the above may result in the licence being revoked

Yes. While there are no specific conditions concerning catch reporting for the sea cucumber 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.

Yes.