Jacquelin Lablache (1955-2008)-Farewell to a friend |31 May 2008

Jacquelin, who was educated at Seychelles College, pursued his maritime studies in France where he graduated as Lieutenant de Pêche in 1978. Straight out of school he joined the first joint Seychelles/French experimental pole and line tuna venture as assistant manager, and in fact captained the first tuna pole and line vessel to Port Victoria.

Soon after this company ceased to operate in 1981, he was appointed as the manager of the newly created state company composed of 20 local schooners called Fishing Development Company (FIDECO). This company was being operated as a trial venture and it also managed the first industrial Seychelles tuna longliner the ‘Seykor’. In 1984, Jacquelin joined the newly created SMB Fish Division as its General Manager, a position which he held until 1991. This company played the major role of guaranteeing fishermen a stable price for their fish by purchasing the surplus catch, as well as marketing Seychelles fish both locally and overseas.

In 1992 he started his private business and purchased and managed both a tuna purse seiner and a mother ship fishing venture. With his vast experience in marketing and fish quality control, he soon after created his own company, SOCOMEP (Socièté de Controle d’Expertise Maritime des Pêches) to issue certificates for tonnage and fish quality to cargo vessels transporting tuna to foreign ports. He also acted as a part-time fisheries consultant and was always ready and willing to share his vast fishing experience and was never short of ideas on all fisheries issues. In view of his excellent relationship with foreign ship-owners, he was a true ambassador for Seychelles fisheries overseas.

Jacquelin will be remembered for his friendly, outgoing manner, his generosity to his staff and most of all for his joie de vivre. He was a bon vivant par excellence and his joy of life was almost contagious. But more importantly, Jacquelin can be qualified as a true pioneer in the annals of the Seychelles industrial fishery, having at one time or the other managed, or owned tuna pole and line vessels, an industrial tuna long liner and a tuna purse seiner. This achievement surely goes beyond what most Seychellois could ever aspire to attempt and achieve in their lifetime.

And in between all that, he found time to be an active member of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, manage a football team and participate in numerous civic committees. But more importantly, he raised a lovely family and was a devoted husband and father. Yes, ‘Jack,’ as he was called by his intimate friends, almost did it all and he did it in his own very special style that no one else could imitate. Indeed, his sudden and premature departure will be a great blow to the Seychelles fishing industry, to his friends and, above all to his beloved family.
He will be missed by all.