Over two dozen fisheries administrators and private sector representatives from seven countries of the region including Seychelles are meeting here to plan and carry out interventions to maximise opportunities that a tuna by-catch industry could bring to their respective countries.

The term "by-catch" is used for fish caught unintentionally while intending to catch other fish which in this specific case is tuna.

A study on by-catch from the tuna fishery industry in the Indian Ocean has already been carried out and the workshop was also to present a report on the study to the delegates.

The study was carried out under the ACP Fish II Programme which is a €30 million programme  funded by the 9^thEuropean Development Fund (EDF) which aims to strengthen the capacity  of fisheries management in African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries .

The programme has already provided support for the realisation of various projects and studies in the region.

The two-day workshop has been organised by the ACP Fish II Programme in collaboration with the Smartfish programme – a regional fisheries strategy for the Eastern-Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Region (ESA-IO) and is being hosted by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).

The workshop is focussing on the potential of by-catch in the region and the benefits which can be derived through value-addition either for the local market or for export.

With the implementation of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) recommendation on by-catch and the EU policy of zero discards (to be gradually implemented starting from 2015), an influx of by-catch may be expected at fishing ports in the region. How can this be maximised to    ensure food security?

This workshop will serve as an eye opener and help stakeholders and governments take stock of possibilities and help them make the right decisions for the benefit of the sector and their countries.

Fisheries advisor Alejandro Anganuzzi addressed the opening session of the workshop yesterday which is also being attended by Denis Reiss from the EU delegation to Mauritius, Seychelles and Comoros, Leone Tarabusi, Regional Manager ACP Fish II for Southern Africa and Chris Short from the IOC Smartfish Programme.

 Tuna transhipment in Port Victoria. Delegates from the region are assessing the opportunities that a tuna by-catch industry could bring to their respective countries (top right)

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