SFA hosts first stakeholder workshop on sea cucumber stock enhancement |17 June 2025
SFA hosts first stakeholder workshop on sea cucumber stock enhancement
Sea cucumbers (Banbara) are among the most valuable marine resources in Seychelles. The fishery plays a critical role in the country’s blue economy by supporting the livelihoods of many Seychellois through fishing, processing, and export. However, in recent years, several species have become scarce.
To address this, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA), through its aquaculture department, is leading a project to investigate whether stock enhancement can help restore sea cucumber populations on the Mahé Plateau. Stock enhancement is a method where sea cucumbers are bred artificially in a hatchery and then juveniles are released into the wild to rebuild natural stocks. This approach has already shown promising results in countries such as Japan and Oman.
The potential benefits of this initiative are far-reaching. If successful, it could help increase future catches, supporting both the industry and the many people who financially depend on it. Releasing juveniles into shallow waters also means safer conditions for divers. Additionally, sea cucumbers play a vital ecological role by cleaning the seabed and recycling nutrients, which supports overall ocean health.
To launch this project, last Tuesday, SFA’s Aquaculture department hosted the first stakeholder workshop for the project at the STC conference room. The goal was to introduce the project concept, share progress to date, and gather knowledge from the entire industry’s stakeholders including divers, skippers, boat owners, processors, researchers, and policy makers.
During the workshop, participants discussed various factors including the technical challenges of farming certain species like white teatfish (kokosye blan), how the project will be funded in the long term, and whether it will lead to meaningful benefits for fishers such as increased quotas or access to new fishing grounds. SFA clarified that while it intends to attempt raising white teatfish, the project will also work on species that are easier to culture. The question of long-term financing and how fishers will benefit is one of the most important elements of this study. A key objective of the project is to develop a viable model that works for the entire industry, and this will be done in collaboration with stakeholders. This workshop was the start of that conversation, with two more workshops planned where these ideas will be further developed together.
Participants also contributed valuable information about where juvenile sea cucumbers have been observed and helped identify suitable shallow-water habitats for future releases. These inputs are being mapped to guide future trials. Some stakeholders suggested that marine protected areas or ‘no-take zones’ could be used for stock enhancement to protect the released juveniles and improve their chances of survival. They also expressed interest in taking a more active role in the project, such as helping with future restocking activities.
The SFA aquaculture department also made it clear that this project is currently a feasibility study, meaning it is not yet a full-scale programme. Instead, it aims to assess whether this technique could work in Seychelles and under what conditions. The project is jointly funded by SeyCCAT and SFA. As part of the early groundwork, four SFA aquaculture staff recently returned from a two-week training course in the Philippines, where they learned how to raise sea cucumber juveniles. Additionally, broodstock (adults used to breed from) collection has already begun, and the first spawning trial is expected to take place in July.
According to the organisers, the workshop was a success, with active engagement and strong interest from all sectors of the sea cucumber industry. The SFA aquaculture department looks forward to continuing this collaborative approach as the feasibility study progresses.
Contributed