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General overview on the 2nd European Union – Seychelles Joint Committee Meeting Compensation deal for local seamen on EU vessels finalised   By Roland Duval |27 November 2021

General overview on the 2nd European Union – Seychelles Joint Committee Meeting  Compensation deal  for local seamen on  EU vessels finalised     By Roland Duval

The press conference (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

Following many long and tiresome negotiations, a final agreement has been reached for compensating Seychellois seamen who have served on European Union-flagged vessels.

This was announced by Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari, who also holds the portfolio for fisheries.

Minister Ferrari made the declaration during a press conference yesterday following the conclusion of the 2nd European Union (EU)-Seychelles Joint Committee Meeting under the EU- Seychelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.

Disbursement of compensation is set to begin on December 15.

Also present at the press conference were deputy Head of Unit for Sustainable Fishing Management and Trade Issue within the EU Emmanuel Berck, principal secretary for Fisheries Roy Clarisse and chief executive of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) Nichol Elizabeth.

Minister Ferrari said the end result is a joint endeavour between the EU – which approached the issue in a constructive manner – shipowners and EU fishing companies operating in Seychelles which showed the willingness to get the issue out of the way.

He explained that the initial claim of compensation for the 121 Seychellois seamen was based on three initial agreements, or protocols, while the final agreement is based on two, with the oldest protocol – being over ten years – carries a legal attachment since it is quite old.

This, Minister Ferrari said, has complicated the work a bit, in terms of finding a balance to compensate for the third protocol.

As solution, an unused sum of €350,000 provided by boat owners for an environmental project has been added to the agreement, bringing the final payment to 73% of the claims.

Another issue discussed during the joint committee meeting was the excellent roll-out of the sectoral support fund allocated for the development of sustainable fisheries and development which is a crucial part of the agreement between the two parties.

Minister Ferrari explained that the EU is satisfied as the fund has been properly disbursed and invested, while the different  projects are being properly carried out, especially the timely conclusion.

He also noted that compared to the past, there have been more projects due to acceleration by the new administration, in partnership with the SFA.

There has also been discussion in setting up a reciprocal agreement between Seychelles and Mayotte to allow Seychelles-flagged vessels to fish in the Mayotte territorial waters and vice-versa.

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