SPGA warns against illegal fishing in the Marine Parks   |06 April 2023

An aerial view of the Ste Anne Marine Park

The Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) has reminded the public that it is illegal to fish in the marine parks, under the Nature Reserves and Conservancy Act, 2022.

In a press release issued this week, SPGA said it has recently detected several incidences of visitors, as well as locals illegally fishing or attempting to fish within the marine parks, a practice which the Authority firmly condemns.

SPGA stated that the act assented on March, 23, 2022, makes reference to offences and penalties, enforcement and compliance, access and restrictions, as well as the management and development of the protected areas, of which encompasses the Marine Parks.

The offences include a person who hunts, fishes, does or takes part in any activity involving the alteration of the configuration of the soil or the alteration of the character of the vegetation, causes pollution of water, introduces exotic animals or plant species into the protected area or performs an act likely to harm or disturb the flora and fauna in the protected area.

It also refers to a person who destroys, removes, causes to be destroyed or causes to be removed, or attempts to destroy or to remove wood, trees, forests, corals, mangroves, seagrass and associated species or other habitats found in, produced on or stemming from a protected area.

SPGA said that while it would like to ensure that such incidents are avoided, it will take necessary legal actions against any individuals found carrying out such illegal activities within its parks, including boat operators and owners, charters and the public.

It has urged boat owners to convey its unyielding message to the captain and crew on-board, “in an effort to avoid any unpleasant circumstances, which may lead to the seizure of fishing equipment or other articles or instruments, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that such have been used for committing or in connection to an offence under the Act”.

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