Government rejects live reef fish trade |21 June 2005

Live reef fishing, in which live fish are kept in floating cages prior to being exported, is common in Southeast Asia, and exploits primarily groupers like aya zerar, vyey and babonn caught on coral reefs.

The main markets for live reef fisheries are Hong Kong and China, where retail prices can fetch up to US $180 per kilo depending on the species, size, texture and availability.

The regulations, which will fall under the Fisheries Act, were proposed following recent requests to revive the fishery in Seychelles.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Ronny Jumeau mentioned the ban on Friday June 17 during his speech to open the 2005 Agricultural and Horticultural Show.

He said the move to ban the “internationally controversial practice” would “benefit all Seychellois fishermen, our stressed-out coral reefs and our environment in general.”

Live reef fishing was originally started in 1998 when a company was allowed to fish around the Farquhar atoll on an experimental basis, said the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). The operation was discontinued after two fishing seasons in 1998 and 1999.

An evaluation of that pilot project raised a number of concerns, including the potential for over-fishing, since only a few species – the type of which are slow-growing and late to breed – are targeted by live reef fishing, the SFA said.

The evaluation also found that because large fish have a much lower value on a price per kilo basis, immature fish are targeted and caught in live reef fisheries, reducing the short-term reproductive capacity of a population.

The practice also leads to wastage, as non-target species that are caught are either released back to the sea or used to feed the live fish kept in holding cages – which the SFA said was wasteful when considering the catches of local fishermen.

“The ban will protect commercially and nutritionally valuable fish species from over-fishing and destructive fishing practices, help ensure the sustainability of fish stocks targeted by our artisanal fishermen, eliminate another potential stress on our fragile and weakened coral reefs, and further boost Seychelles as a champion of responsible and sustainable fishing practices,” Minister Jumeau said at the show.

The SFA said it would be possible, however, to export other species, for example crustaceans like the krab ziraf, with the necessary authorisation from the SFA.