Providence fishing port to be extended |18 April 2017

Work to extend the Providence fishing port by 210 metres has been officially launched.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place last Wednesday in the presence of Vice-President Vincent Meriton, the Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Michael Benstrong, the Japanese ambassador to Seychelles Toshitsugu Uesawa, among other dignitaries.

This extension project is being financed by the government of Japan under the Japan International Corporation Agency (Jica) in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).

The contract was awarded to PENTA-OCEAN Construction Co. Ltd of Japan in January this year after it was put to tender in the last quarter of 2016.

Costing of a little over US $10 million, the project includes hard surfacing of the aprons, one 10-ton daily ice making facility, one landing shed, installation of two mooring buoys, ancillary equipment which consists of lamp posts, water supply, electricity supply and access road within the project site.

Also included in the cost is training for technicians to manage, operate and maintain the ice making facility which is expected to be commissioned in two years’ time.

Capacity building for local experts to work on the project and facilities also forms part of the cost component.

Upon completion, the port will be a boost to the artisanal and semi-industrial fishing industry. The increased quay space and unloading shed will provide more and improved berthing space for fishing boats to unload their catch and provide fish to the processing factories close by. This will alleviate congestion at the fishing port.

The 10-ton daily ice-making machine will contribute significantly towards meeting ice demand.

The project was initiated during a meeting of TICAD in Japan in June 2013 where our former President James Michel discussed this project with his Japanese counterpart. Along with SFA, JICA conducted a baseline survey, collecting statistical data on fishing vessel arrivals and departure and other services to determine the size of the project. PENTA-OCEAN is not new to Seychelles as it has been involved in other fisheries projects in Seychelles.

“This project when completed will go a long way in supporting and improving the conditions for the artisanal/semi-industrial fishing community. The extension of the quay will assist fishermen with more spaces not only for berthing but also to unload their catches quicker, making their operations much more efficient. The result will be quicker turnaround times in the fishing port thus allowing fishermen and fishing vessels to go about their business with more ease,” said Minister Benstrong in his address for the occasion.

He remarked the unloading shed to be built will provide fishermen with more comfort to work under and very importantly provide much needed protection to their catch and thus improve the quality of fish.

He said the other components of the project will no doubt improve the comfort, hygiene, safety and security in that port.

“I am pleased the project also includes training in refrigeration particularly to build SFA’s capacity to better manage and maintain the ice plants it currently manages as well as the new plant which is part of this very generous donation which will cost over US $10 million from the government and the people of Japan,” the minister said.

He added once completed, the project will have significant potential to improve quantity and quality of fish available to the local market, processing facilities and hopefully for the export market.

In his address, Ambassador Uesawa said the fishing industry is one of the key drivers of the Seychelles economy along with tourism.

“Providence port is of great strategic importance in the response to meeting the needs of the fishing sector,” Ambassador Uesawa said, noting that both countries are island nations surrounded by oceans which provide rich resources for their livelihood.

“To us therefore fishing is not just an industry. It is not just a commercial undertaking. Rather it is something which provides a direct link to our history and our most noble traditions. It represents something which is deeply embedded in our souls,” the ambassador said.

Kazukiro Tambara, senior representative of Jica Kenya office, said: “Fisheries have been and will continue to be a very important and instrumental and one of the key pillars of the Seychelles to achieve further social and economic development. Japan, being an island country just like this country, can share knowledge, experience and expertise in this field.”

He said that Jica’s support has been focusing on this sector in terms of infrastructure and capacity development, adding that Jica has been collaborating with the fisheries authority in other projects.

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, Clifford Toussaint, consultant at the SFA, gave an overview of the project.