Long-line fishing gets big boost |26 September 2015

Three new long-line fishing vessels owned by Seychellois entrepreneurs have joined the fleet thus giving a big boost to the local fishing industry.

Yesterday morning President James Michel, accompanied by the Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Wallace Cosgrow, visited the three fishing vessels belonging to the Marine Investment Resources Seychelles Ltd based at Providence and owned by Alderic Benoiton.

The three vessels Blue Ocean 1, Blue Ocean 2, and Blue Ocean 3 are presently moored at the ex- coastguard base at Bois de Rose. But once they become operational they will be based at Providence.

Speaking to the press after visiting the vessels President Michel said the three vessels are a source of great pride as much for Mr Benoiton who is seeing the realisation of his dreams and for him as the President who is championing the Blue economy.

“The three vessels are important to us because they will bring long-line fishing by Seychellois themselves for Seychellois on another level and this once again is proof of Seychellois heeding the call to take ownership of their economy,” President Michel noted, adding that we all have our share in the Blue economy.

“I congratulate Mr Benoiton for this initiative. The three vessels will allow for the sustainable exploitation of our marine resources to benefit not only his enterprise but our country and our people,” President Michel pointed out.

He added that through the initiative Mr Benoiton is also providing training, expertise and career opportunities to our young people so they can grow in the profession and contribute to the development of the fishing sector.

 Mr Benoiton said it was always his dream to take part in the development of the fishing sector but opportunities have been limited but when President Michel called for Seychellois to come up with initiatives to take part in the development of the Blue economy and opportunities become available, his son and himself seized the chance.

“I am very happy to have been able to realize my dream and I am really proud,” Mr Benoiton said.

Mr Benoiton said at present 75% of the vessels’ workforce are the Indonesians who came with the vessels but his company is working closely with the Maritime Training Centre (MTC) with which an agreement will soon be signed so that his company could provide training, work attachment and subsequent employment to young prospective seafarers from the institution  as well as encourage them to consider building a career on the vessels once they graduate.

As part of the project a factory to transform fish into value added products for export will also be built soon at Ile Du Port.

The three vessels will start their operations as soon as all formalities have been completed. They arrived in the country two weeks ago.

The three vessels have cost some R35 million while the total investment in the project of vessels plus factory is some R95 million.