Strengthening capacity to develop, improve competitive fisheries export |28 November 2019

PS Talma (at podium) addressing delegates at the launch of the workshop yesterday (Photo: Jude Morel)

A two-day workshop is being organised as part of the Trade COM II project to strengthen the capacity to improve trade-related sanitary and phytosanitary measures conformity and capacity building for competitive fisheries export in Seychelles.

Held at Avani Resort, the workshop is being attended by entrepreneurs dealing mainly in the fish business.

Paula Bauwens from TradeCom II explained that the TradeComII programme is an EU-funded ACP-administered programme designed to support trade-related capacity needs in ACP countries and is committed to working with ACP countries, such as Seychelles, to determine and implement a trade-oriented development trajectory that is peculiar to their needs and provide them with technical assistance to build capacity in a sustainable manner.

“The event today should represent a milestone in the process towards the development of a competitive and sustainable export sector for Seychelles in fisheries, which also respects sanitary and phytosanitary standards both in-country and outside. Nearly six months after the inception of this project, I am eager to be part of this restitution exercise in the company of public and private sector partners such as fisheries experts and practitioners, representatives of statutory bodies in the area of biosecurity and standards, policy makers and related agencies,” noted Mrs Bauwens.

Fisheries principal secretary Jude Talma said this workshop is targeting all stakeholders who are investing in fish production.

“We do have specific laws and regulations in the sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) but we noted that the laws are not being fully implemented. If we want to export our fish, we need to respect the laws and standards of the countries. In Seychelles, most of the big companies do meet the expectations for exportation but we still have to ensure the SPS are being maintained locally. We still see fish being sold by the roadside and we do not know how hygienic and safe they are. When there is any kind of contamination, we put the product at risk.”

PS Talma also said that there are initiatives being taken by the private sector, those include setting up of fish shops. “In our comprehensive plan we do have plans to develop new bazars where fishermen can sell their fish on ice. Of course there will still be the traditional way of selling fish, where the fish will already be cleaned prior. We are planning to put more ice machines available to the fishermen on land and help the fishermen with small ice machines on their boat in order to help them preserve their fish,” explained PS Talma.

“It is expected that the output of this project will stand the test of time, ownership and sustainability for years to come and will, in their own way, contribute to poverty reduction, meaningful regional integration and increased participation in the global economy for Seychelles,” concluded Mrs Bauwens.

Vidya Gappy