Fishermen to have say in sharks' protection plan |24 May 2005

Minister Ronny Jumeau said this at the closing ceremony on Sunday May 22 (evening) of this year's 16th edition of the Sub Indian Ocean Seychelles (Subios) festival at the Subios village at Beau Vallon.

The ceremony was attended by Vice-President Joseph Belmont, Minister of Education and Youth Danny Faure and a large crowd of environment enthusiasts, and was marked by a prize-giving ceremony to winners of the Subios story, poem and art competitions as well as a “marine fashion show” by models from the Mangouya Studio.

Minister Jumeau said the National Plan of Action for Sharks was being prepared with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Conservation Union's Shark Specialist Group.

The plan, he said, was necessary to "protect our dwindling sharks population in a scientific way, while allowing our artisanal fishermen to continue fish them in a sustainable manner as they have always traditionally done."

The government was taking the final steps to this year ban shark finning on all large fishing vessels in Seychelles' waters, the minister added.

The ban will cover all foreign fishing boats licensed to fish in Seychelles’ waters and all Seychelles-registered large fishing industrial vessels, fishing either in Seychelles' waters or "even on the high seas." 

"This will support a forthcoming proposal by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to ban shark finning and encourage the use of the entire shark in those fisheries in the region which are managed by the IOTC," Minister Jumeau explained.

The minister also traced the various environment and marine related conservation activities and scientific researches carried out over the past five months, pointing out that it was clear from the findings that "there is still a huge treasure chest of marine riches waiting to be discovered in our waters."

"Battered as they may have been by coral bleaching and the tsunami, the underwater homes that this year’s festival seeks to preserve still have many secrets to reveal and Subios continues to be a frontier, a gateway to undiscovered wonders of global significance," he said. 

Minister Jumeau also commended the national media, namely SBC TV and Radio and Seychelles Nation newspaper for the extensive coverage given to environment activities and for their contribution in promoting marine conservation.

Children's participation in the festival and efforts towards marine conservation were also recognised with the presentation of prizes to the winners of Subios contests.

In the poem competition for category under 13 years, the first prize went to Imane Jaffa of International School, as Marshini Saratne from Anse Boileau won top prize in the category of 13 o 16 years. In the over 17 category, the winner was Martina Madeleine from Mont Fleuri.

For the story competition, the winners were Donovan Corgat (under 13 years), Valerie Bijoux (13-16 years) and Lindy Corgat (over 17 years), all from Plaisance.

The art competition saw a trio from the Independent school, namely Vadrine Boulet, Rania Dhanjee and Emalie Ah-Shung winning first prize for under 13 years as Beryl Baker from Beau Vallon clinched the top prize for 13-16 years. Maggie Bouchereau from the College of the Arts came out first in the over 17 category.

Trophies were also awarded to second and third prize winners of the Subios best underwater images and videos. The first prize winners will receive their awards during next year's public voting event.

The 17th edition of the festival next year will take place from May 20-23 under the theme "Gardens Below," and will focus on corals.