Sustainable Fisheries Agreement Seychelles – Mauritius   Existing accord extended for 60 days, allowing for new reciprocal agreements |09 February 2022

Minister Maudhoo and Minister Ferrari signing the interim accord (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

• Interim accord to prevent disruptions in fishing activities

The current Sustainable Fisheries Agreement between Seychelles and Mauritius has been extended for a period of 60 days while it is being fine-tuned by both parties, bringing on more clauses which need deeper and more thorough reflections.

Meanwhile, the extended agreement will ensure that there will be no disruption in fishing activities from the fleets of both countries.

Seychelles and Mauritius signed their first bilateral sustainable fishing agreement in 2005, allowing the two countries to fish in each other's territorial waters, while the current one was signed on February 20, 2017.

Designated Minister Jean-Francois Ferrari, who holds the portfolio for fisheries, made the declaration yesterday following the completion of a week-long negotiation between the two countries.

Other than Minister Ferrari, Seychelles was also being represented at the discussions by principal secretary for Fisheries, Roy Clarisse; the chief executive of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Nichol Elizabeth; consultant within the department of the Blue Economy, Phillipe Michaud; and other technical staff from the ministry and SFA, while Mauritius was being represented by the Minister for the Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Sudheer Maudhoo; permanent secretary for Fisheries, Raj Kishore Bunjun; and legal personnel Geerish Topsy Sonoo.

Minister Ferrari explained that since the agreement expires on February 20, it was necessary to re-negotiate, or extend the agreement, with the latter being chosen as the better solution, without extending a one-year period.

The extension however carries several changes, including increase in the existing licence fees on both sides.

For Mauritian purse seiners – floating the Mauritian flag – fishing in Seychelles waters, the licence fee has increased from US $110,000 to Euro 143,000, while Seychelles’ purse seiners fishing in the Mauritian waters will now pay a fee of Euro 31,200, instead of the previous US $24,000.

As for long liners, the previous fee of US $17,000 has been raised to Euro 22,750 for a period of six months and for a one-year period it has gone up from US $30,000 to Euro 39,000.

The fee for supply vessels has also increased from US $5000 to Euro 5000, while there has been the introduction of environment and research fee of Euro 2.25 per Gross Tonnage (GT) – measure of a ship's overall internal volume and is determined by dividing by 100 the contents, in cubic feet, of the vessel's enclosed spaces – per vessel, per year.

Management of Fish Aggregating Device (Fad), better surveillance, as well as the possibility of having more seamen from the two countries on the different vessels were also among the topics discussed.

Since Seychelles does not have the administrative jurisdiction over the Saya de Malha Bank, it was requested that permission is granted by the Mauritian authority for research work in the field of sea cucumber fishing to be carried out by Seychelles in the area.

A suggestion that was welcomed by the Mauritian delegation, promising their full back-up and support towards the initiative on the largest shallow bank found on the Mascarene Plateau, which is jointly managed by Seychelles and Mauritius. The results of the research will show if they will be able to make extra revenue by sustainably exploiting this joint area.

Other than discussion, the Mauritian delegation also had the chance to visit several facilities, in support of artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries.

Minister Maudhoo said they have taken notes of the development in the field of fisheries and that it is lesson learned for them.

He also extended an invitation to Minister Ferrari for an exchange visit to Rodrigues to witness the island’s management of octopus fishery.

Roland Duval