‘Bold start’ to building Seychellois tuna fleet
31.07.2009
A fleet of Seychellois-owned long-line fishing boats is one of the targets of a special fund set up by the government to improve its fishing industry.
The fund was launched through the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), in collaboration with other partners such as the Seychelles Investment Bureau (SIB) and the Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS).
The total allocation of the new Fisheries Development Fund is €2.7 million, to be managed by the DBS and available to local entrepreneurs only.
Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan praised the initiative as he launched the fund on Wednesday afternoon during the first fisheries development fair at Eden Island.
“The launch of this fund is a humble start, but a bold one, in a long process to build a Seychelles-owned fleet of tuna vessels,” he said.
“This initiative is, therefore, very important and the Seychelles government is committed to give this project its full support.”
The event was attended by affiliated partners and guests including ministers, ambassadors, members of the National Assembly and the SFA’s board of directors.
Mr Morgan explained that the fund will help create more jobs in the semi-industrial fisheries sector and give further training opportunities to our Maritime Training Centre graduates.
“We also expect an increase in the catches and exports of tuna from Seychelles,” he said.
“We have by far the largest portion of tuna stocks in the western Indian Ocean. We aim to use this to further the development advantage of our tuna industry.”
Mr Morgan spoke about other plans to complement the semi-industrial fishing industry as it expands, such as reducing the number of licences issued to foreign-owned tuna vessels, improving the landing facilities in Victoria and Bel Ombre, opening a new fishing port at Providence and planning a long-line port facility in Victoria that will, in the near future, bring extra benefits and infrastructure.
He added that a study has just been completed, whose results will be published soon with clear recommendations for action to ensure the country gets the greatest economic benefits from the industry.
A new fisheries Act and regulations are also being finalised to combat illegal fishing and improve the general management of our fisheries, to ensure the sustainability of our fish stocks.
Presentations were given by SFA managing director Rondolph Payet on what the fund is, by SFA project manager Michel Marguerite on how it will work, and by SIB chief executive Sheryn Renaud on investing in Seychelles’ fishing industry.
And the documents to officially set up the fund were signed by Mr Payet and Roger Toussaint, managing director of the DBS.