Seychelles tuna boats get fishing access to Mauritian waters |23 March 2005

The agreement was formalised during President James Michel’s official visit to Mauritius, where he was the guest of honour for the country’s 37th Independence Day celebrations.

According to Phillipe Michaud, the fisheries adviser to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the agreement would balance the terms of a previous fishing deal dating back to 1990 that allowed Mauritian purse seiners and long liners to fish in Seychelles’ waters.

He said the agreement came in light of new technology being used for vessel monitoring systems, as well as an interest expressed by Seychelles-registered purse seiners and long liners to fish in Mauritian waters for tuna, which is known as a highly mobile species.

Mr Michaud said according to the vessel owners, there is “a fair bit of tuna” in Mauritian waters for about two or three months out of the year.

Targeting other species outside of tuna in either zone will not be permitted under the deal, and some zones, like the Mahe Plateau and mid-ocean banks, would be reserved for Seychelles fishermen.

The two-year agreement can be renewed for successive two-year periods, with both countries having the option to withdraw or amend the deal after each period.

Seychelles has 11 purse seiners and 26 long liners registered locally. Mauritius had three purse seiners at one point but they were sold some five years ago, said Mr Michaud.

Mr Michaud noted it was unlikely that the new arrangement would draw vessels away from Port Victoria for off loading. Most European-registered vessels – under a separate agreement between the EU and Mauritius – are already permitted to fish in Mauritian waters yet stick with Seychelles as a port of call, he said.

Negotiations with other countries to allow Seychelles-registered vessels in other territorial waters are ongoing, added Mr Michaud.