Seychelles to push for IOTC to assess socio-economic impact of tuna fishing on member countries |12 May 2018

A strong Seychellois delegation of key stakeholders in the tuna fishing sector will take part in the forthcoming 22nd Indian Ocean Tuna Commission session from May 21-25 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fourteen (14) proposals will be tabled for consideration and adoption by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) 32 members. The proposals are meant to improve the management and trade of fish among member states and Seychelles has submitted a proposal that has to do with the socio-economic aspect of tuna fishing, looking at its economic and social impact on member countries.

Seychelles is asking that the IOTC conducts a survey to better assess that.

The Cabinet of ministers in its meeting on Wednesday chaired by President Danny Faure at State House, considered and approved the position that Seychelles will take at this forthcoming IOTC session.

Roy Clarisse, special advisor for fisheries in the Ministry for Fisheries and Agriculture, said on Thursday, while giving more details to the press, that during the forthcoming IOTC session, Seychelles has submitted one of the 14 proposals and is supporting and co-sponsoring two others.

The proposals have to do with controlling some fishing activities like fish aggregating devices (FAD), ensuring fishing vessels blacklisted for illegal fishing practices in one region do not escape sanctions by continuing their activities with impunity in the Indian Ocean, the conservation of different fish species like marlin and sharks caught as by-catch while fishing tuna, quota allocation among others.

With regard to the survey that Seychelles is calling for, Mr Clarisse notes that “often times when resolutions for conservation and management of tuna stocks are adopted, these impact economically on those countries which depend on tuna fishing and its related activities. Therefore it is important that countries are aware of the economic impact each of those measures carry”.

Mr Clarisse went on to note that Seychelles will support those proposals which will of course have positive impacts on its economic growth and increase the incomes and livelihood of the general population.