Public meeting   Residents get insight into proposed rock oyster project at Anse Etoile |11 July 2022

Mr Belle leading the presentation on Saturday (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

Residents of the Anse Etoile district on Saturday had the chance to get an overview of the proposed rock oyster project, which is an initiative that comes from a team of local entrepreneurs and oyster lovers.

The project has been funded by the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) under its Blue Grant Fund (BGF) at a sum of R999,500.

The aim of the project is to operate an aquaculture farm that produces edible rock oyster – scientifically known as Crassostrea Cucullata – for consumption and commercial purposes in Seychelles.  

Saturday’s meeting was to discuss the project as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

Present to guide the residents were programme coordinator for the project Jacques Belle, director for environment assessment and permits within the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Myron Meme, and EIA consultant Daniel Rosette.

Mr Belle explained that the overall outcome of the project is to determine that the farming of rock oyster could become a new commercial seafood product for the local market, and eventually export.

He said the Anse Etoile coastline is an ideal location to conduct trial of rock oysters since it is a great environment for the oyster to breed and grow as it is directly facing three rivers that pour into the Anse Etoile sea, while there is no boat traffic and less pollution.

Other reasons include spats that are constantly present as there is a good tidal flow and tide change due needed to bring necessary nutrients, adult oysters are abundantly found and grow on rocks in harmony with the eco-system, existing infrastructure such as wires, concrete pillars, where oyster can grow fast (ex-radio structures), important amount of variety of rock oysters such as ‘Crassostrea Cucullata’, the Pinctada Margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster) including  ‘Crassotrea Giga’ (“Pacific Oysters), while the oysters are located in a sheltered bay, less exposed from wind and constantly submerged at mid to high tide.

Three identified spots in Anse Etoile coastline for the project are (I) the spot at ex-FEBA radio station (offshore trial) with the long line vertical method using clutching materials and the floating and existing infrastructure, such as wires and concrete columns in the area of the abandoned old radio station building, (II) the spot close to Aurore Island (onshore/offshore trial)  with floating cages or submerged baskets that will have the spat grown into the coastline at Aurore Island because ideal as it is free from strong wind and strong wave action, and (III) the spot at Perseverance (onshore trial) with floating cages or submerged baskets that will have the spat grown into the coastline at Perservance island because they are quite sheltered areas.

Roland Duval