Seychelles attends OACPS ministers for fisheries and aquaculture meeting in Ghana |09 April 2022
The Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-François Ferrari, is currently representing Seychelles at the 7th meeting of Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture from the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
The meeting is taking place in Accra, Ghana and Minister Ferrari is accompanied by the chief executive of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Nichol Elizabeth.
At the official opening session of the meeting, the host, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, repeated the mission statement adopted by all of the 79 countries of the organisation, which is to spare no effort to accelerate the development, productive and resilient fisheries and aquaculture sector in member states, essentially by improving approaches to fisheries and ocean governance, and by strengthening international and regional exchange and dialogue, advocacy and political support of respective governments.
The meeting has reiterated its key driving principles which are increased ownership of the industry by member states, sustainability for the future generations and inclusivity so that no one is left behind as fisheries is transformed.
Mr Elizabeth presented an important paper on the subject of ‘Combatting illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing in member states’ and putting forward Seychelles’ tough experience in this area.
“IUU brings unfair competition and undermines food security and the livelihood of many dependent communities,” he said, and this must be combatted not in isolation but in close collaboration from all member states and partner organisations.
“Seychelles is doing its fair share, sometimes fighting over its weight, and other countries must do as much and be transparent about it,” he added.
Also present at the meeting was Sven Biermann, the executive director of Fisheries Transparency Initiatives (FiTI). FiTI’s headquarters is based in Seychelles, and is an organisation which Seychelles is a founding and very active member of. Mr Biermann highlighted the recent progress made in enhancing transparency in fisheries governance in Seychelles and around the world, drawing lessons from the experiences of some of the member states of the OACPS.
The accompanying photos show Minister Ferrari in some of his interactions at the meeting.
Press release from the Ministry of Fisheries & the Blue Economy
