Students and MNAs dive into aquaculture   |21 October 2022

A group of secondary school students yesterday had the opportunity to visit the Seychelles Fishing Authority’s Broodstock, Acclimation and Quarantine Facility, an aquaculture facility which is instrumental towards supporting the development of the aquaculture industry in Seychelles.

The visit, an opportunity to see first-hand and learn about the functions and operations of the facility, is but the first in a series, organised by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) to commemorate the first year anniversary of the aquaculture sector in Seychelles.

During yesterday’s visit, the students interacted with some of the 15 staff employed in different positions at the facility, where they were given more information about the infrastructural features, namely the broodstock tanks, how the facility powers its operations, and the sector in general.

Among the species of finfish housed in the Broodstock, Acclimation and Quarantine Facility (BAQF), are mangrove snapper, subnose pompano, and emporer red snappers. Additionally, the facility is successfully culturing two microagal species.

Assistant manager of the aquaculture department at SFA Veronica Alphonse-Uzice noted that the visit which commenced on Tuesday and will come to an end on Friday 28, was organised with the aim of encouraging yet more interest in the sector.

“We have an education and awareness campaign which we have been running for a few years now, whereby we are educating people about aquaculture. In the beginning people did not really understand what aquaculture is and how it works, so, we are continuing on with this campaign, to educate them about what it entails and the jobs within the sector,” said Ms Alphonse-Uzice.

“We are working especially with children, so they can understand the various jobs in the sector, to get them interested in taking up a career in it. Even if at times something is explained, people understand it a certain way, but by visiting and seeing it for themselves, they understand better,” Ms Alphonse-Uzice stated.

Joshua Cecile of Persévérance secondary school, despite not necessarily having thought about joining the industry, found the visit interesting, especially learning about the different species of fish.

In addition to the students, a number of National Assembly members also visited the facility, as well as the sea urchin research centre, located at the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA).

Members of the public are also being invited for the visits which are to be held twice daily from next week, Monday through to Friday. Interested persons are advised to call the department to book a place.

The BAQF has been fully-operational since September 2019, and funded through the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between Seychelles and the European Union (EU). A number of investors have shown an interest in the sector, with several going through the processes to obtain licenses to grow marine finfish, sea cucumbers and seaweed. A significant proportion of those interested are Seychellois investors, as per Ms Alphonse-Uzice

Seychelles started developing the aquaculture framework around a decade ago, developing relevant laws to regulate the sector prior to officially launching the sectors.

Laura Pillay