Praslin fishermen set up their association |17 September 2009

The new body was legally registered under the Registrar of Association Act in May 2009 under the name Lasosyasyon Peser Praslin (LPP).

The LPP groups about 40 artisanal fishermen involved in the trap and hand-line fishery around the coastal waters of Praslin.

The association has elected an executive committee with a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer and five ordinary members.

Its basic objectives include:

● To ensure the sustainability of marine resources (in particular inshore resources) around Praslin so as to promote management of the artisanal fishery for the benefit of Praslin fishermen and their families;

● To promote the socio-economic development of the fishermen by improving the marketing of the catch for the benefit of all Praslin fishermen;

● To contribute to the sustainable development of the Praslin artisanal fishing industry while ensuring that the policies of the association are in line with those of the government.

The most effective way to achieve the association’s goals is seen as being to establish a good working relationship with all parties concerned, in particular the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), and work together to improve the development/management of the fishing industry on the island.

The LPP is a strictly non-political organisation and is planning to join the Liaison Unit of Non-governmental Organisations of Seychelles (Lungos) as soon as it is running properly.

The formation of the LPP was done through a project called: Mainstreaming biodiversity management of the production sector activities. This is carried out by the government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

This project looks at improved artisanal fisheries management for greater sustainability of natural resources and livelihoods. Together with the SFA, the project has held a dialogue with fishermen on Praslin since 2006; several meetings were held and surveys conducted to get their opinion on the local fishery.

The results of these talks and studies showed that most fishermen from Praslin agree that both the catch rates and sizes of fish have decreased considerably, and there is therefore a need to improve management measures in close consultation with the government.

The fishermen were convinced there is a need for them to have a greater say in managing their fishery and that both the government and the fishing community should share this important responsibility. This underscored the need to establish “fisheries co-management” arrangements between the fishermen and the authorities.

The UNDP-GEF project then recruited the services of a local fisheries co-management adviser to work closely with the association in helping to carry out its aims.

The fisheries adviser will play a leading role in setting up and running the fisheries co-management programme for the hand-line and trap fishery on Praslin and later extending this initiative to similar fisheries on Mahe.

The adviser’s work will be done in close collaboration with national counterpart staff from the SFA, who will jointly be coordinating the efforts of key stakeholders, including the newly created LPP, as well as other stakeholders such as relevant NGOs, the Praslin Development Fund, dive operators, hotels and the Seychelles National Park Authority.

In order to achieve this broad-based consultation, it is proposed to set up a Praslin Fisheries Co-Management Committee in the near future.

Apart from these inaugural meetings, a first general meeting of the LPP has been held where it was emphasised and agreed that the association should work closely with the SFA to monitor and enforce fisheries regulations and policies.

Issues of practical importance in improving the Praslin fishing industry were also discussed. These include providing a small cold store for storing bait, repair and refurbishment of the slipway and fish landing pier, and improved marketing of the catch.

The LPP believes these steps are important to ensure the fishing industry on Praslin is safeguarded and properly developed.