Recent Submissions

  • Fisheries Statistical Report Year 2020, Semester 1

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2021)
    The Seychelles Fisheries Statistical Report is a comprehensive source of information for the commercial fishing industry, fisheries managers, policymakers, and researchers. Since 2014 the report has presented annual updates of fisheries statistics on a bi-annual basis. The report contains data on the volume of production from Seychelles artisanal, semi-industrial, industrial longline and purse seine fishery by vessel type, species, and geographical locations. Profiles of each fishery, summary of data collection and processing procedures are also provided. Readers should note that in 2017 SFA implemented a new data management system for artisanal fishery which created delays in data capture and the delays in publication of this report. SFA wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay of this publication. Information on recreational, sea cucumber, lobster and sport fishery is not included in this current edition but will be included progressively in future editions. As a result, the publication gives only a partial estimate of the total volume of local fishery production. Readers should note that some figures presented in this bulletin may be different to previously published because these figures may have been revised following thorough verifications carried out on the data following database upgrading, new data received that were previously missing, revised EEZ shape file used or data validation using VMS data. Also, some of the figures presented may be subject to revision (usually upwards) as more data become available. Since space is a limiting factor in some tables, flag country appearing in these tables is included based on their total catch. The remaining flags are classified under “OTHERS”. Flag countries with only one vessel are automatically placed under “OTHERS” to preserve the confidentiality of data pertaining to the vessel.
  • Fisheries Statistical Report Year: 2017 Semester 1, Year 2018

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2019)
    The Seychelles Fisheries Statistical Report is a comprehensive source of information for the commercial fishing industry, fisheries managers, policymakers and researchers. Since 2014 the report has presented annual updates of fisheries statistics for on a bi-annual basis. The report contains data on the volume of production from Seychelles artisanal, semi industrial, industrial longline and purse seine fishery by vessel type, species and geographical locations. Profiles of each fishery, summary of data collection and processing procedures are also provided. Information on recreational, sea cucumber, Lobster and sport fishery is not included in this current edition but will be included progressively in future editions. As a result, the publication gives only a partial estimate of the total volume of local fishery production. Readers should note that some figures presented in this bulletin may be different to previously published because these figures may have been revised following thorough verifications carried out on the data following database upgrading, new data received that were previously missing, revised EEZ shape file used or data validation using VMS data. Also some of the figures presented may be subject to revision (usually upwards) as more data become available. Since space is a limiting factor in some tables, flag country appearing in these tables is included based on their total catch. The remaining flags are classified under “OTHERS”. Flag countries with only one vessel are automatically placed under “OTHERS” to preserve the confidentiality of data pertaining to the vessel.
  • Fisheries Statistical Report - Year 2016

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2017)
    This Statistical bulletin presents statistics for purse seine fishery, semi industrial longline fishery, and artisanal fishery for the year 2015 and 2016. Time series data for last 10 years is also presented for each fishery. It must be noted that fisheries economic information such as Vessel expenditures and export will not feature in this current report and future fisheries statistical report. For such information contact the SFA Economic section. Data used to generate the tables and figures for industrial and semi industrial fishery presented here are based on daily catch and effort forms (logbooks) and landing and transhipment forms returned from fishing vessels that are licensed to fish in the Seychelles EEZ as well as from data collected via the tuna sampling programme conducted during unloading in Port Victoria. Sometimes there are delays in these being received at SFA, especially for longliners that often spend up to a year at sea. For purse seiners the delays are usually during and just after the second quarter of the year when most vessels are fishing in the Mozambique Channel and are not necessarily using Port Victoria for transhipment. Readers should note that some figures presented in this bulletin may be different to previously published because these figures have been revised following thorough verifications carried out on the data following database upgrading, revised EEZ shape file used or data validation using VMS data. Also some of the figures presented may be subject to revision (usually upwards) as more data become available. Since space is a limiting factor in some tables, flag country appearing in these tables is included based on their total catch. The remaining flags are classified under “OTHERS”. Flag countries with only one vessel are automatically placed under “OTHERS” to preserve the confidentiality of data pertaining to the vessel.
  • SFA Fisheries Statistical Report 2016 Semester 1

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2016)
    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 2015 and first semester of 2016. Data used to generate the tables and figures for industrial and semi industrial fishery presented here are based on daily catch and effort forms (logbooks) and landing and transhipment forms returned from fishing vessels that are licensed to fish in the Seychelles EEZ as well as from data collected via the tuna sampling programme conducted during unloading in Port Victoria. Sometimes there are delays in these being received at SFA, especially for longliners that often spend up to a year at sea. For purse seiners the delays are usually during and just after the second quarter of the year when most vessels are fishing in the Mozambique Channel and are not necessarily using Port Victoria for transhipment. Figures presented on vessel port calls and expenditures in port Victoria are based on data collected from Seychelles Port Authority and shipping Agents respectively whilst export and import figures are generated from data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics, invoices from local processors and export permit from Ministry of Finance. Readers should note that some figures presented in this bulletin may be different to previously published because these figures have been revised following thorough verifications carried out on the data following database upgrading, revised EEZ shape file used or data validation using VMS data. Also some of the figures presented may be subject to revision (usually upwards) as more data become available. Since space is a limiting factor in some tables, flag country appearing in these tables is included based on their total catch. The remaining flags are classified under “OTHERS”. Flag countries with only one vessel are automatically placed under “OTHERS” to preserve the confidentiality of data pertaining to the vessel.
  • Fisheries Statistical Report, Year: 2015 Semester 1

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2015)
  • Seychelles’ 1st Report to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) Calendar year: 2019

    FiTI National Multi-stakeholder Group of Seychelles (MSG) (Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, 2021-04)
    Seychelles, an island group in the western Indian Ocean, comprises of 115 islands spread over an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.37 million km2. Despite having a land mass of just 455 km2, Seychelles is a large oceanic state, and a major player in the global tuna industry, with Port Victoria one of the busiest industrial fishing ports in the Western Indian Ocean. Seychelles is heavily reliant on its two main pillars of the economy: tourism and fisheries. In view that marine fisheries is such a key contributor to the social, economic and cultural fabric of Seychelles, the fisheries sector plays a central role in the nation’s developmental agenda, from successive National Development Plans to strategies for socio-economic growth. Seychelles has also prioritised the nationalising of the international agenda for sustainable fisheries, such as the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). There is a widely shared understanding of the need to achieve sustainably managed marine fisheries. But coastal states, like Seychelles, face a complex challenge: ensuring that fishing and fish trade contribute to income, employment, food and nutrition security, while also conserving marine biodiversity for future generations. While there are many aspects to achieve sustainable fisheries, the public availability of information is essential. Transparency does not only contribute to improved decision-making by public authorities, it can also highlight underlying factors of unsustainable fisheries. National authorities, private fishing companies, local fishing communities, investors, retailers and partner countries engaged in fishing agreements stand to benefit from increased transparency. Promoting these positive features of fisheries lies at the heart of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI).
  • Economic Impact of the Seychelles Sea Cucumber Fishery and Industry

    SFA Fisheries Economics (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2021-09)
    1. The Seychelles sea cucumber industry has a non-transferable licensing framework granting access to only 25 fishing and 4 processing licenses. A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was introduced in 2018 with only three species allowable for fishing: flower teatfish, prickly redfish and white teatfish. The fishing fleet is comprised of 25 vessels embarking on average 6 trips per season and with a mean fishing trip duration of 17 days. Some form of pre-processing is conducted onboard involving eviscerating and salting the sea cucumber. At the processing-level, the 4 licensed processors utilize the entire supply of landings and processes the sea cucumbers to a dried state. Based on the processors’ estimates, the industry’s processing capacity can increase twofold. 2. On a seasonal basis for the 2019/2020 season [October to May], the sea cucumber fishing fleet landed 371,599 pieces of sea cucumbers representing a 34% increase from the 2017/2018 season and a 40% increase from the 2018/2019 season. Flower teatfish had the highest landings (72%) followed by white teatfish (18%) and prickly red (10%). The fleet utilised 99% of the TAC which is an improvement of 28 percentage points compared to the previous season. 3. On an annual basis in 2020, a total of 376,181 sea cucumbers were landed with an estimated landings revenue of SCR 51.9 million. This represents a 78% increase from 2018 and a 22% increase from 2019. Fishers tend to be paid a standard unit price for each specimen, with a SCR 10 commission earned only on the sale of flower teatfish and white teatfish to processors. Increases in ex-vessel prices were observed in 2019, with flower teatfish and white teatfish growing by 25% and 35% respectively. White teatfish garnered the highest ex-vessel price per piece with prices typically SCR 15-20 higher than flower teatfish and SCR 80-110 higher than prickly redfish. 4. Export consignments of dried sea cucumbers are mainly transported via air with Hong Kong as its only destination. Export trends indicate that export is on the rise despite a marginal fall in both the number of pieces and weight by 1% and 4% respectively during 2018-2019. In 2020, data is from January-July and shows that export value has attained an increase of 32% from 2018 and 3% from 2019. Similar to ex-vessel prices, white teatfish is the most valuable specimen exported and in 2020, all 3 species recorded individual highs with white teatfish at SCR 2,295 per kg, flower teatfish at SCR 2,040 per kg and prickly red at SCR 1,020 per kg. Average export prices for white teatfish, flower teatfish and prickly red stands at SCR 1,539, 1,401, 720 per kg respectively. 5. The sea cucumber industry directly supports about 185 jobs generating an income impact of approximately SCR 29.6 million. The fishing component generated the most jobs (150) and income earnings (SCR 23.9 million). Page | 4 There are 118 locals employed in the fishery, resulting to about 143 households directly dependent on the industry, ultimately leading to an estimated 486 individuals impacted to some degree by the industry. 6. The Government through the SFA charges various fees to operators including licensing fees, management fees, and an inspection fee. In 2020, SFA collected SCR 1.8 million in such fees translating to a 18% increase in 2018 and a 15% increase in 2019. 7. In 2019, it is estimated that the mean operational cost for a sea cucumber fishing vessel amounts to SCR 1.2 million, with the main operational cost items being labour remuneration (79%), food (9%), fuel (6%), and accommodation (5%). Vessel owners benefit from a fuel excise tax exemption equivalent to SCR 8.50 per litre. This subsidy reduced fleet-level costs by SCR 1.5 million and lowered the annual operational cost of a vessel by 4%. 8. The industry generated a value-added impact of SCR 43.5 million, with the fishing component and processing/exporting components contributing SCR 31.3 million and SCR 12.3 million respectively.
  • Fisheries Statistical Report Year: 2019

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2020)
    The Seychelles Fisheries Statistical Report is a comprehensive source of information for the commercial fishing industry, fisheries managers, policymakers, and researchers. Since 2014 the report has presented annual updates of fisheries statistics for on a bi-annual basis. The report contains data on the volume of production from Seychelles artisanal, semi-industrial, industrial longline and purse seine fishery by vessel type, species, and geographical locations. Profiles of each fishery, summary of data collection and processing procedures are also provided. Readers should note that data in 2017 SFA implemented a new data management system for artisanal fishery which created delays in data capture and the delays in publication of this report. SFA wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay of this publication. Information on recreational, sea cucumber, Lobster and sport fishery is not included in this current edition but will be included progressively in future editions. As a result, the publication gives only a partial estimate of the total volume of local fishery production. Readers should note that some figures presented in this bulletin may be different to previously published because these figures may have been revised following thorough verifications carried out on the data following database upgrading, new data received that were previously missing, revised EEZ shape file used or data validation using VMS data. Also, some of the figures presented may be subject to revision (usually upwards) as more data become available. Since space is a limiting factor in some tables, flag country appearing in these tables is included based on their total catch. The remaining flags are classified under “OTHERS”. Flag countries with only one vessel are automatically placed under “OTHERS” to preserve the confidentiality of data pertaining to the vessel.
  • Impact d'un développement thonier sur une économie insulaire: L'exemple des Seychelles.

    Michaud, P. (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 1991)
    The geographical redeployment of the French and Spanish tuna fleets in the Indian Ocean in 1983 and 1984 has had a considerable impact on the economic and social life of Seychelles. The utilization of the port of Victoria as a transshipment centre for purse seiners and longliners has created numerous jobs as stevedores, seamen, technicians in naval repair, etc. This activity has brought to the country an increasing amount of foreign exchange. This development of industrial tuna activity in Seychelles has only been possible as a result of considerable investment by Government in various infrastructures notably in the port sector. Expenses have also to be incurred in the control and follow-up of fishing operations. An important increase to the value added in Seychelles, can take place in future, only by the establishment of a national fleet and the building of docking facilities. Provision of storage facilities for longliners in the very short term would also be beneficial.
  • Seychelles Fishing Authority Strategic Plan 2018-2020.

    Seychelles Fishing Authority (Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2018)
  • Commercial sea cucumbers: a review for the western Indian Ocean.

    Conand, Chantal; Muthiga, Nyawira (Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, 2007)
    Sea cucumbers (Holothurians) are a group of marine invertebrates that are harvested worldwide in tropical and subtropical countries. Over the past decades, a signi fi cant increase in the demand for sea cucumber has led to an explosion in exploitation often resulting in population declines in many producing nations. Because of the importance of sea cucumbers as a source of livelihood for many artisanal fi shers from developing countries and as a globally traded product, much interest has been generated for information on their biology, ecology and fi sheries management. Although management agencies and fi shing communities have recognized that sea cucumber fi sheries are in trouble worldwide, attempts at management have been largely unsuccessful due to several factors including: 1) the vulnerability of sea cucumbers to harvesting, 2) the artisanal nature of the fi shery that prevents fi sher communities from using alternative coping mechanisms and 3) the institutional and socio-economic barriers to management. Sea cucumber production has been declining in nations of the Western Indian Ocean in the last ten years. The reasons for the decline include: 1) a lack of ecological information for understanding species life histories, 2) a lack of understanding of the socio-economic realities of the fi shery and 3) inadequate monitoring and enforcement of fi shery regulations. The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) as part of its aim to serve the information needs of resource managers and communities for the sustainable management of marine resources in the WIO, approved a ‘Regional Sea Cucumber Project’ in 2006. This review was prepared as the baseline study of the project and aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge on sea cucumbers in the WIO. The information used in the review comes from many sources including journal articles, theses and dissertations, and reports on all aspects of sea cucumbers in the region. Although the report focuses on the fi ve countries (Kenya, La Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles, Tanzania) that are involved in the project, a brief description of the status of sea cucumbers in other countries of the WIO is also included. It is hoped that this review contributes scienti fi c information that will support management efforts of sea cucumbers in the WIO and also serve as a useful reference for scientists and students interested in echinoderms in general and sea cucumbers in particular.
  • Seychelles.

    Ali Bandar, Daniel; Ranaivoson, Eulalie; Sweenarain, Soobaschand; Yvergniaux, Yann (Commission de l'Océan Indien, 2014)
  • The fisheries policy of the Republic of Seychelles

    Anon. (Victoria : Seychelles Fishing Authority, 2005)
    The fisheries policy of the Government of Seychelles was first drafted in 1986. At that time, both the industrial and artisanal fisheries in Seychelles were in a developmental stage and the policy reflected the needs to promote both the development and conservation of our marine resources as well as maximizing benefits. In 1985 the number of licenses issued for the industrial tuna fishery was 49 for the purse seiners and 165 for longliners with an annual purse seine catch of 130,000 tonnes. The total catch for the industrial purse seine fishery has continued to rise and peaked at around 407, 000 tonnes in the year 2003. The artisanal fishing fleet has declined from 410 vessels in 1985 to 330 in the year 2003, however, the nature of the fleet has changed dramatically. The artisanal fleet is now entirely mechanized and consists of larger and better equipped vessels with improved safety facilities. The total annual catch of the artisanal fishery has remained relatively constant since fisheries data has been collected, however increasing effort in terms of mandays at sea and the more accurate positioning systems currently used are a cause for concern. Lower recruitment of fish stocks and localized over-fishing has been noted in some of the fisheries data sectors. The change in both the industrial tuna fishery catch and the artisanal fleet composition is a direct reflection of the rapid rise of technological innovations to improve fishing effectiveness. In addition, the development of new fisheries and marine resource related operations such as the semi-industrial long-line fishery, crustacean fisheries and aquaculture have taken place. From the relatively simple fisheries, in terms of gear, positioning and fish finding technologies, in the mid eighties, fishing operations have progressed significantly to include modern fishing equipment, gears and improved boat design, with the support and development of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). With respect to the goals and objectives outlined in the 1986 Fisheries Policy in relation to development, management and research, the SFA has managed to achieve 2 these, within the present framework of the fisheries legislation and management policies. In the light of these, and other developments, a decision was taken to reformulate the Fisheries Policy and to bring it more in line with the changing nature of all aspects of fisheries in Seychelles. To continue maintaining the sustainability of all fisheries undertaken in Seychelles waters, increased emphasis needs to be placed on manpower development, monitoring, control and surveillance, research and management. Nevertheless the main points indicated in the past policy are still relevant and have been refined and expanded upon where necessary to reflect the move towards a fisheries policy that encompasses all present and future aspects of fisheries in Seychelles. Needless to say, this policy will be reviewed and updated whenever required to take into consideration new developments which may arise.