Recent Submissions

  • Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Summary of Fishing Activity for the 2021-2022 season

    SFA Fisheries Research Section - Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2022-10)
    Spiny lobsters (Palinuridae) are amongst many marine species with great commercial importance for small-scale fisherman. In Seychelles, the spiny lobster has traditionally been managed as a seasonal closure and limited access (license-limited) fishery. The lobster fishing season usually opens for 3 months. This report presents analyses of the fisheries-dependent data collected from the spiny lobster fishery during the 2021/2022 fishing season and makes comparison between previous fishing seasons. To achieve this, data collected from fishers and sampled Catch and Effort logbooks were used. Statistical analyses to compare sizes between the previous seasons for Panulirus longipes (Long-legged spiny lobster) and Panulirus penicillatus (Pronghorn spiny lobster) were performed. Results for 2021/2022 season showed that snorkeling was the predominant fishing method used. A decrease in both the total catch (1.87 MT) and the number of fishing trips (103 trips) was observed compared to the two previous seasons. In terms of fishing sites, Mahé remains the most dominant area for both total catch (1.29 MT) and number of trips (72 trips) amongst the major fishing sites. A decrease in the number of trips (CPUE) was observed. For the 2021/2022 season, female, and male carapace length (CL) size were mostly constant compared to the two previous seasons. Overall, the data analysis for 2021/2022 season indicates that there was a decline in lobster’s relative abundance, most probably attributed to lobster fishing season being open for three consecutive fishing seasons. The CPUE has decreased by 27% compared to the previous season. The 2022 fisheries independent survey will be conducted during the last quarter of the year to establish the changes in the relative abundance of lobsters.
  • Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Lobster Survey Report 2021.

    SFA Fisheries Research Section (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2021)
    The spiny lobster fishery has been conventionally managed by seasonal closures and limited access (license-limited) regulations implemented by the Seychelles Fishing Authority. These regulations have been in force to limit the level of fishing effort of fishers primarily targeting the coastal and shallow water stocks, which are easily accessible and susceptible to overfishing. In the past, assessments of fisheries dependent data have shown several significant declines in the coastal stocks when too many licenses are allocated or when the fishery remains open for 3 to 4 consecutive seasons. Consequently, the stock status is determined by assessing both fisheries dependent and independent (surveys) data. Results obtained are provided to managers with advice on whether the fishery should be opened or remain closed.
  • Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Summary of Fishing Activity for the 2020-2021 Season.

    SFA Fisheries Research Section (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2021)
    Spiny lobsters (Palinuridae) are amongst many marine species with great commercial importance for small-scale fisherman. In Seychelles, the spiny lobster fishery has traditionally been managed as a seasonal closure and limited access (license-limited) fishery. The lobster fishing season usually opens for 3 months, but because of low catch and effort as a result of unfavourable weather conditions, the 2020/2021 fishing season was extended by 1 month. This report presents analyses of the fisheries-dependent data collected from the spiny lobster fishery during the 2020/2021 fishing season and makes comparison between previous fishing seasons. To achieve this, data collected from fishers and sampled Catch and Effort logbooks were used. Statistical analyses to compare sizes between the previous seasons for Panulirus longipes (Long-legged spiny lobster) and Panulirus penicillatus (Pronghorn spiny lobster) were performed. Results for 2020/2021 season showed that snorkelling was the dominant fishing method. An increase in both the total catch (6.14 Metric Tonnes) and number of fishing trips (242 trips) was observed compared to the two previous seasons. In terms of fishing location, Mahé remains the most dominant area for both total catch and number of trips amongst the major fishing sites. Despite an increase in the number of trips, the CPUE showed a slight decrease. For the 2020/21 season, female carapace length (CL) sizes for both Panulirus penicillatus and Panulirus longipes were larger compared to the previous seasons. In contrast, a decrease in CL was observed in males. Overall, the data analysis for 2020/2021 season indicates that there was a slight decrease in lobster’s relative abundance, most probably attributed to lobster fishing season being open for two consecutive fishing seasons. Despite more fishing opportunities being made available through the fishery extension, the CPUE remained lower compared to the previous season, thus indicating possible signs of reduced lobster abundance. The 2021 fisheries independent survey will be conducted during the last quarter of the year to establish the changes in the relative abundance of lobsters.
  • Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Summary of Fishing Activity for the 2016-2017 season.

    SFA Fisheries Research Section (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2017)
    The Seychelles artisanal spiny lobster fishery targets shallow water lobster stocks around the main granitic islands. The main species of lobsters caught are Homard Grosse Tete (Panulirus penicillatus), Homard Rouge (P. longipes), Homard Vert (P. versicolor) and Porcellene (P. ornatus). The spiny lobster fishery in Seychelles is a licensed and seasonally- managed fishery with fishers applying for licences prior to the opening of the season, which typically last 3 months in duration.
  • Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Lobster Survey Report 2020.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority; Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2020-12)
    The spiny lobster fishery has been conventionally managed by seasonal closures and limited access (license-limited) regulations implemented by the Seychelles Fishing Authority. These regulations have been in force to limit fishers primarily targeting coastal and shallow water stocks, where abundance is limited and easily accessible. In the past, assessments of fisheries dependent data have shown several significant declines in the coastal stocks when too many licenses are allocated or when the fishery remains open for 3 to 4 consecutive seasons. Consequently, the stock status is determined by assessing both fisheries dependent and independent (surveys) data. Results obtained are provided to managers with advice on whether the fishery should be opened or remain closed. The 2019-2020 lobster fishing season was opened after remaining closed for two consecutive seasons (2017-2018, 2018-2019, Figure 1). In October 2020, as part of the Participatory Lobster Monitoring Programme (PLMP) a fisheries independent survey was carried out to assess stock status at 20 sites around Mahé. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the PLMP survey and to present information on several stock indicators based on the combined data collected from the survey and the 2019-2020 fishing season. Moreover, it provides several recommendations and advice to managers on both fishery and survey to decision making on whether the 2020-2021 fishing season should be opened or remain closed.
  • Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Lobster Survey Report 2019

    SFA Fisheries Research Section (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2019)
  • Lobster Fishery Information Note.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2017)
  • Lobster Survey Report 2018.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2018)
    The spiny lobster fishery has traditionally been managed as a seasonal and limited access (license-limited) fishery. This is due to the fact that fishers only exploit the shallow water and coastal stocks which, limited in size, deplete rapidly when exploited. There have been several collapses of these coastal stocks in the past when too many licenses have been allowed, or when the fishery has been opened for more than 3 or 4 consecutive seasons. Consequently, the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) assesses the status of the stock using fisheries dependent and fisheries independent (surveys) data and provides managers with advice on whether the fishery should be opened or remains closed.
  • Mariculture Development in Seychelles and other Western Indian Ocean Island States: an Overview of Challenges and Prospects.

    Lesperance, Aubrey D.; Troell, M.; Hecht, T.; Beveridge, M.; Stead, S.; Bryceson, I.; Kautsky, N.; Mmochi, A.; Ollever, F. (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2011)
    Seychelles has a relatively long history of prawn farming, which was established on Coetivy Island in 1989 by the Islands Development Company Ltd and the Seychelles Marketing Board and later taken over and managed by the latter. The farm comprised of two hatcheries and around 200 ponds and occupied an area of around 96 ha, and when in full production had a workforce of around 350 people (mainly Thai and Sri Lankan nationals). Production of Penaeus monodon (Black Tiger prawn) peaked at 1200 tonnes per annum in 2004, but by 2007 had declined to just under 400 tonnes (Fig. 1). Broodstcok w as imported from Madagascar and Mozambique. The product was held in high esteem internationally and locally (Hecht, 2009). For several reasons production at the prawn farm ceased in late 2008. Amongst others these included the high operational costs due to the location of the farm, which is situated approximately 300 km away from the inner islands and the difficulty to produce sufficient numbers of post larv ae for stocking into grow-out ponds and other private sector interests. Much of the hardware of the farm has been sold, but the pond infrastructure remains available for future developments.
  • Seychelles Artisanal Fisheries Statistics for 2014.

    Assan, C.N.; Lucas, J.L. (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2015)
  • Fishery Independent Indices for the Seychelles Lobster Resource.

    SFA Fisheries Research (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2014)
  • Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics for 1990

    Mees, C.C. (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 1991)
  • Report on the Spiny lobster fishery: Summary of Fishing Activity for the 2015-2016 season.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority Fisheries Research Section, 2016)
    The Seychelles artisanal spiny lobster fishery targets shallow water lobster stocks around the main granitic islands. The main species of lobsters caught are Homard Grosse Tete ( Panulirus penicillatus ), Homard Rouge ( P. longipes) , Homard Vert ( P. versicolor ) and Porcellene ( P. ornatus ). The preferred habitats for these species are fringing carbonate reefs and granite reefs which provide good shelter for the lobsters. The spiny lobster fishery in Seychelles is a licensed and seasonally - managed fishery with fishers applying for licences prior to the opening of the season, which typically last 3 months in duration.
  • SFA Fisheries Statistical Report 2014.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2014)
    This Statistical bulletin presents statistics for purse seine fishery, semi industrial longline fishery, artisanal fishery, vessel port activities and expenditures, and fisheries import and export for the year 2013 and 2014.
  • SFA Fisheries Statistical Report 2014 Semester 1.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2014)
    This Statistical bulletin presents statistics for purse seine fishery, semi industrial longline fishery, artisanal fishery, vessel port activities and expenditures, and fisheries export for the year 2013 and up to first semester of 2014. The figures presented for the industrial longline fishery are for years 2012 and 2013.
  • SFA Fisheries Statistical Report 2015.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2015)
    This Statistical bulletin presents statistics for purse seine fishery, semi industrial longline fishery, artisanal fishery, vessel port activities and expenditures, and fisheries import and export for the year 2014 and 2015.
  • SFA Fisheries Statistical Report 2015 Semester 1.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2015)
    This report provides statistical and economic information of key fisheries of the Seychelles and is published bi-annually. This volume contains fisheries statistics for purse seine, industrial longline, semi industrial longline and artisanal fishery in addition to fisheries statistics in port Victoria and fisheries export information.
  • Report on the Spiny lobster fishery: Summary of Fishing Activity for the 2013-2014 Season.

    SFA Fisheries Research Section (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2014)
    The Seychelles artisanal spiny lobster fishery targets shallow water lobster stocks around the main granitic islands. The main species of lobsters caught are Homard Grosse Tete (Panulirus Penicillatus), Homard Rouge (P. longipes), Homard Vert (P. versicolor) and Porcellene (P. ornatus ). The preferred habitats for these species are fringing carbonate reefs and granite reefs which provide good shelter for the lobsters.
  • Report on the Spiny lobster fishery: Fishery and stock status after two consecutive opened seasons (2010-2011 & 2011-2012).

    Robinson, Jan; Dorizo, Juliette; Assan, Cindy (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2012)
    The spiny lobster fishery is an artisanal fishery that targets the shallow water lobster stocks around the main granitic islands of Seychelles. The main species of spiny lobsters caught in Seychelles are Homard Grosse Tete (Panulirus penicillatus), Homard Rouge (P. longipes) , Homard Vert (P. versicolor) and Porcellene (P. ornatus).
  • The Seychelles Spiny Lobster Fishery: Fishery and Stock Status: 2005-2008.

    Robinson, Jan; Dorizo, Juliette; Assan, Cindy (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2009)
    The spiny lobster fishery is an artisanal fishery that targets the shallow water lobster stocks around the main granitic islands of Seychelles . Spiny lobsters are harvested at night by fishermen hand collecting using torches and snorkelling gear or, to a lesser extent, SCUBA gear. Bamboo traps are also used but account for a small percentage of catch.

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