Efforts stepped up to exploit our ‘blue gold’
Seychelles will continue to encourage and step up effort to promote local investments and contributions in developing the fisheries industry, in particular the tuna sector often referred to as the ‘blue gold’, on the international market.
This came out in the National Assembly yesterday morning while the Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon was giving details of development in the industry to parliamentarians.
“If there is a need we could start with joint ventures where foreign investments and experience is necessary, this is seriously encouraged and promoted by the ministry concerned as it would ensure that more money generated by the industry remains here to benefit more Seychellois,” Minister Sinon said.
He noted that from the start some 30 years ago Seychelles has been determined to exploit this natural resource in a sustainable manner and he commended the effort of all actors involved to ensure the success of the industry.
He pointed out only last week the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) during a regional workshop it hosted here recognised Seychelles as the member country which is more advanced in terms of implementing IOTC’s resolutions and as an IOTC developing member state Seychelles is also the country which tables more propositions for tuna stock conservation to be considered.
“For instance it was Seychelles which co-sponsored the proposition for the IOTC to adopt the precautionary principle where tuna fishing is concerned in the Indian Ocean region. It was also Seychelles which pushed for tuna by-catch to be considered and today new opportunities are being considered for this particular sector,” said Minister Sinon.
The fishing industry, as the second pillar of Seychelles economy, makes a considerable annual contribution.
For the past two years the fisheries sector has been directly and continuously increasing its foreign exchange contribution to the country’s economy, Minister Sinon added.
‘’Our ‘blue gold’ also generates considerable economic activities on different levels – namely creation of jobs, development of port facilities, exportation of canned and fresh tuna which are durable and sustainable and profitable activities for those who have the means and expertise,” said Minister Sinon.
In order to ensure the country benefits more from the industry Minister Sinon said that after 30 years of operation Seychelles does not need aggressive publicity to attract investors to the industry as it has itself put in place different organisations and structures where all actors operate.
Today the Victoria Fishing Port is reputed as the port which receives and transships the most tuna than other ports in the Indian Ocean region. Today the main concern remains the conservation and management of the tuna stock and more than ever we should ensure that standard and control measures established over the years are not compromised by requests and demands imposed by new or existing operators in the industry who do not comply to management guidelines of the resource as per international norms.
“Seychelles is the first African country to sign the FAO Port State Measures – which aim to fight illegal fishing and its implementation is monitored in our region by the IOTC,” the minister noted.
At this point Minister Sinon commended the concerted effort of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, in particular the Coast Guards, as well as all other partners who patrol our waters.
Meanwhile Minister Sinon said efforts are being stepped up to ensure Seychelles continues to maintain and improve standards in the industry so as to continue meeting international norms to ensure our important international markets such as the EU as well as regional countries are always ready to do business with us.
Seychelles has invested in port facilities and infrastructure for fishermen, it has negotiated for favourable fishing agreements, ensured security for fishermen at sea, created a fund and credit facilities for fishermen who want to have their own fishing vessel, subsidised ice and fuel so as to make sure Seychellois remain in the industry and are further encouraged to join the promising sector.
Minister Sinon noted that the emphasis President James Michel is placing on the blue economy, his visit to Sri Lanka last year, followed by other activities and development in the fisheries industry have all created remarkable interest by both Seychellois and foreign investors in the fisheries sector.
“Seychelles has done a lot to ensure the sustainable development and exploitation of tuna for future generations to continue benefiting,” said Mr Sinon.
Minister Sinon added that the new fishing agreement Seychelles recently signed with the European Union is the most significant the body has ever signed with a country in our region.
The EU also recently helped to reinforce surveillance, control and security in our EEZ and this through the Smartfish programme it funds through the Indian Ocean Commission.
Our other partners in the industry such as Japan and South Korea are also as important as they contribute significantly to our economy.
An important component of the fisheries industry is the Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT) canning factory, among the largest canning factories in the world and the biggest employer in Seychelles and can produce 1.6 million cans of tuna per day, the bulk of which is for export.
Every day the factory handles 350 tonnes of tuna with which it produces the 1.6 million cans of tuna, employs 2421 workers, 34% of whom are Seychellois, its production services amount to another approximately 800 jobs, 95% of our exports come from IOT, it imports 46% of products per year. Last year alone 3696 containers entering the country were for the IOT, representing 21% of the total number of containers coming in.
With regard to exports, 3450 containers left the country with canned tuna, 58% of all containers leaving Port Victoria.
The company every year invests on average €5 million in infrastructure and equipment to ensure it maintains its position and standard in the region.
Its projections for this year shows an increase of 15% in its contribution to the country’s economy and it expects to spend some €57 million in the next three years on different capital projects which include construction of new warehouses, installation of solar panels and construction of two apartment blocks for its foreign workers.
This came out in the National Assembly yesterday morning while the Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon was giving details of development in the industry to parliamentarians.
“If there is a need we could start with joint ventures where foreign investments and experience is necessary, this is seriously encouraged and promoted by the ministry concerned as it would ensure that more money generated by the industry remains here to benefit more Seychellois,” Minister Sinon said.
He noted that from the start some 30 years ago Seychelles has been determined to exploit this natural resource in a sustainable manner and he commended the effort of all actors involved to ensure the success of the industry.
He pointed out only last week the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) during a regional workshop it hosted here recognised Seychelles as the member country which is more advanced in terms of implementing IOTC’s resolutions and as an IOTC developing member state Seychelles is also the country which tables more propositions for tuna stock conservation to be considered.
“For instance it was Seychelles which co-sponsored the proposition for the IOTC to adopt the precautionary principle where tuna fishing is concerned in the Indian Ocean region. It was also Seychelles which pushed for tuna by-catch to be considered and today new opportunities are being considered for this particular sector,” said Minister Sinon.
The fishing industry, as the second pillar of Seychelles economy, makes a considerable annual contribution.
For the past two years the fisheries sector has been directly and continuously increasing its foreign exchange contribution to the country’s economy, Minister Sinon added.
‘’Our ‘blue gold’ also generates considerable economic activities on different levels – namely creation of jobs, development of port facilities, exportation of canned and fresh tuna which are durable and sustainable and profitable activities for those who have the means and expertise,” said Minister Sinon.
In order to ensure the country benefits more from the industry Minister Sinon said that after 30 years of operation Seychelles does not need aggressive publicity to attract investors to the industry as it has itself put in place different organisations and structures where all actors operate.
Today the Victoria Fishing Port is reputed as the port which receives and transships the most tuna than other ports in the Indian Ocean region. Today the main concern remains the conservation and management of the tuna stock and more than ever we should ensure that standard and control measures established over the years are not compromised by requests and demands imposed by new or existing operators in the industry who do not comply to management guidelines of the resource as per international norms.
“Seychelles is the first African country to sign the FAO Port State Measures – which aim to fight illegal fishing and its implementation is monitored in our region by the IOTC,” the minister noted.
At this point Minister Sinon commended the concerted effort of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, in particular the Coast Guards, as well as all other partners who patrol our waters.
Meanwhile Minister Sinon said efforts are being stepped up to ensure Seychelles continues to maintain and improve standards in the industry so as to continue meeting international norms to ensure our important international markets such as the EU as well as regional countries are always ready to do business with us.
Seychelles has invested in port facilities and infrastructure for fishermen, it has negotiated for favourable fishing agreements, ensured security for fishermen at sea, created a fund and credit facilities for fishermen who want to have their own fishing vessel, subsidised ice and fuel so as to make sure Seychellois remain in the industry and are further encouraged to join the promising sector.
Minister Sinon noted that the emphasis President James Michel is placing on the blue economy, his visit to Sri Lanka last year, followed by other activities and development in the fisheries industry have all created remarkable interest by both Seychellois and foreign investors in the fisheries sector.
“Seychelles has done a lot to ensure the sustainable development and exploitation of tuna for future generations to continue benefiting,” said Mr Sinon.
Minister Sinon added that the new fishing agreement Seychelles recently signed with the European Union is the most significant the body has ever signed with a country in our region.
The EU also recently helped to reinforce surveillance, control and security in our EEZ and this through the Smartfish programme it funds through the Indian Ocean Commission.
Our other partners in the industry such as Japan and South Korea are also as important as they contribute significantly to our economy.
An important component of the fisheries industry is the Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT) canning factory, among the largest canning factories in the world and the biggest employer in Seychelles and can produce 1.6 million cans of tuna per day, the bulk of which is for export.
Every day the factory handles 350 tonnes of tuna with which it produces the 1.6 million cans of tuna, employs 2421 workers, 34% of whom are Seychellois, its production services amount to another approximately 800 jobs, 95% of our exports come from IOT, it imports 46% of products per year. Last year alone 3696 containers entering the country were for the IOT, representing 21% of the total number of containers coming in.
With regard to exports, 3450 containers left the country with canned tuna, 58% of all containers leaving Port Victoria.
The company every year invests on average €5 million in infrastructure and equipment to ensure it maintains its position and standard in the region.
Its projections for this year shows an increase of 15% in its contribution to the country’s economy and it expects to spend some €57 million in the next three years on different capital projects which include construction of new warehouses, installation of solar panels and construction of two apartment blocks for its foreign workers.
Forrás: www.nation.sc