President hails artisanal fishermen’s contributions to fishing industry |26 November 2022

A souvenir photograph after the meeting

President Wavel Ramkalawan has recognised a group of retired and current artisanal fishermen in the country for their contribution to the development of the fishing industry.

Richard Bossy, Claude Nicole, Paul Camille, Andre Barbier, Jimmy Port-Louis, Davidson Morgan, Secbert Rose and Simon Gabriel were each presented with a token of appreciation by the President for their long years of service and contributions.

Rolly Tambarra, who has passed away, was also honoured for his contributions to the local fishing industry and his token was collected by his daughter Merna Tambarra. Albert Napier from the Seychelles Apostleship of the Sea (Apostolat de La Mer) was also recognised for his fight for the rights of fishermen in the country.

The recognition of the artisanal fishermen took place at State House in the presence of the Designated Minister and Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-François Ferrari.

During their meeting with President Ramkalawan, the retired and younger fishermen shared their experience fishing in the old and current days and the challenges facing artisanal fisheries, specifically in relation to manpower.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Minister Ferrari said that in view of the declaration of this year by the United Nations as the year of artisanal fisheries, the President had wanted to meet and thanked them for their contributions.

Minister Ferrari said that his ministry along with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and other partners are working to raise the status of fishermen in the country and also finding ways to make their lives as easy as possible and more comfortable.

He noted that other sectors of the fishing industry will also be recognised for their contributions in future fisheries celebrations next year and in the years to follow.

Minister Ferrari said that the main challenge of artisanal fishing and the fishing industry in general is to get young Seychellois to take up a career in that field even though there is a lot of money to be made in fishing.

He added that a lot of efforts are being made to encourage the youth to take up a career in fishing. 

He said the reason to recognise the contribution of the younger artisanal fishermen also is to motivate young people to join the industry.

Mr Gabriel, a 78-year-old fisherman from Les Mamelles, said it was a great honour for him to receive the recognition and to meet with President Ramkalawan.

He added that he was happy to have shared his past fishing experience in the old days with the President, especially the time he spent paddling out to sea in his canoe to eke out a living.  

He said that fishing has become easier nowadays given the advances in technology in fisheries that he had never had the chance to use.

He stated that there are not enough young fishermen as they are more interested in substance abuse and easy money than to go out to fish.

He noted it was the first time that he has set foot at State House and he was very happy to have seen the place. He is now involved in the business of salting fish.   

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert