Identification of small vessels: SFA clarifies |14 February 2023

The Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) wish to further shed clarity on the identification of all small vessels measuring less than 10 metres, operating in the EEZ of the Republic of Seychelles.

The publication of these new regulations allows for a six-month transition period, before the regulations take full effect on August 1, 2023.

For licensed fishers operating small vessels measuring less than 10 metres in length, the identification exercise for their vessels, as per the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (Identification of small vessels) regulations 2023, is being scheduled for phase three during the months of June/July 2023.

Therefore, during the current initial phase, the SMSA is conducting the identification exercise for private vessels until the end of March 2023. During the second phase starting April until the end of May 2023, the identification exercise will focus on commercial vessels except fishing vessels. And phase three, which is expected to begin in June, will focus on fishing vessels.

There will be further consultations between the SMSA and SFA ahead of phase three to ensure the best approach is applied during this exercise.

Press release from SFA