Lobster fishing season extended |17 March 2023

The Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy has extended the lobster fishing season for two additional weeks from Wednesday March 15, 2023 to Tuesday March 28, 2023.

Fishers with a valid license are allowed to practice lobster fishery as per defined regulations.

The season was opened on January 15, 2023 and originally set to close on March 14, 2023.

Data collected from lobster fishers show a 51% decline in fishing effort leading to a 52% decrease in catch reported during February 2023, compared to the same month of the 2020-2021 fishing season.

Bad weather and poor fishing conditions (dirty water with low visibility) were attributed as the primary factors of this outcome.

This was supported by feedback from the licensed fishers that their activities have been greatly impacted by the bad weather.

The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) strongly believes that the decrease in catch can only be attributed to a reduction in fishing effort due to bad weather, and not a result of a sudden decline in the spiny rock lobster stock. Therefore, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy has determined that the season shall be extended to allow fishers to at least recover their expenditures.

Sixteen (16) licenses were allocated to fishers for lobster fishery on a first come, first served basis.

Press release from SFA