SFA opens its doors to public |21 October 2017

To celebrate the Seychelles Food Week 2017, the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) held an open day yesterday at its premises at the fishing port.

It was marked by visits, exhibition, presentations, fish prepping, sale and tasting of fish foods and sale of plants.

The SFA, with 33 years in existence, manages, develops and regulates the fishing industry in Seychelles.

In his opening remarks to kick-start the event, the chief executive of SFA Ronny Renaud said trade in fish represents an important source of export revenue especially for developing countries such as Seychelles.

He noted that SFA has developed several management measures to facilitate sustainable and responsible fisheries and the importance of value addition in the sector.

“Value addition in fisheries has been one of SFA’s priority areas in the last few years. It allows for maximising value of the fishery resources and reduces wastage,” he said.

He hoped that young generations can see the potential that is available in the fisheries sector.

Breaking into groups, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Pamela Charlette, fisheries principal secretary Michel Nalletamby, secondary and post secondary students, crèche students from Plaisance primary school, boat owners, fishermen, SFA board members and other guests were all invited to tour the exhibition showing the different work that SFA does. These include collection of statistics and data analising, equipment used in fish data collection, aquaculture as a new industry, various fish species, sea food delicacies, types of fish traps, fishing nets, hooks and knots, among others.

Guests also visited artisanal and semi- industrial fishing boats docked alongside the pier and the SFA’s food production lab where fish value added products are manufactured and tested. Inside the lab, a group of chefs from the Seychelles Tourism Academy under the leadership of chef Antoine Simeon showed the guests how to do fish prepping with swordfish and the different ways it can be cooked.

In the canteen, different presentations on nutritional benefit of fish, sea urchin, the reproductive biology of spine foot rabbit fish (kordonnyen) took place as Veronica Uzice explained in her presentation the role of aquaculture for food security.

“In our waters, it will come a time when we will not be able to continue to exploit or rely on our

fisheries and this new fish farming method that is being introduced will be just another way to diversify our economy and also to ensure  the continuation of fish supply for the population,” she explained.

Jamillah Azolan, a student from the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA), said “it is always good to come to such events as it helps you learn new things that might help me when I decide what type of sea job I will do”.

Darius Dufrene from Belonie secondary who will be applying for SMA said: “I came to see what SFA is all about and what it has to offer. I am taking a career in fishing,” he proudly said.

Outside guests were able to buy fruit and vegetable plants, fish burgers and fish croquette and other sea food dishes that were on sale.

The open day went until late in the afternoon.

The accompanying photos show students and guests learning more about the fisheries sector during the open day.