SEYCHELLES FISHING AUTHORITY: INCOMPETENT, INEFFICIENT & PREPOSTEROUS!

SEYCHELLES FISHING AUTHORITY: INCOMPETENT, INEFFICIENT & PREPOSTEROUS!

A group of Seychellois fishermen have complained to this paper about current practices at SFA which are proving simply too hard to stomach. They say that the Managing Director of SFA, Mr. Rudolph Payet, is increasingly adopting a dictatorial style and making it difficult for them to earn a meager living. On their part, SFA has made it clear that they are simply implementing government policy.

The Seychelles Fishing Authority has, for some time now, introduced a stringent quota system which is apparently keeping our local fishermen away from the now lucrative sea cucumber business. The fishermen have complained that wealthy entrepreneurs who are well connected with the SPPF or are friends of Mr. Payet, are known to be operating as many as 9 fishing boats to practically monopolize the industry; creating an almost cartel-like atmosphere. On the other hand, our small local fishermen who have applied for a sea cucumber licence to operate a small boat with two or three divers have been refused this particular privilege.

These fishermen have become increasingly frustrated by the fact that even though they have joined the queue over five years ago waiting for their turn to get a licence, nothing has transpired. SFA has explained that the only way they can get a licence is if someone drops out of the business altogether. This, unfortunately, has not happened for over 10 years. Others have complained that even though there are regulations compelling operators to declare catch and to keep a record of fishing grounds, SFA has applied these rules in a discriminatory manner, turning a blind eye to some who do not comply but dragging others to Court for not complying.

The irony is that until now, despite efforts from SFA, there is no scientific proof that sea cucumber is a resource which is under threat of extinction to justify restriction or the imposition of a quota system. Unlike places like Madagascar and others where there are substantial operators are engaged in the industry, in Seychelles there are only a small pool of divers from which the local fishermen can pick from to engage in this business. The amount of divers in this industry is negligible and certainly not substantial enough in numbers to justify the restriction put in place by SFA.

Seychelles has not missed a single opportunity to make a hue and cry at International Conferences to complain that we are a victim of our own success after international aid to Seychelles have all but dried up. The reality is that Seychelles is not receiving aid because the government has consistently failed to live up to its international obligation to repay loans taken.

On the other hand it can also be argued that Seychelles is a relatively rich country with one of the biggest exclusive economic zone in the world. Our seas contain an abundance of natural marine resources which, if exploited and managed properly, would generate more than sufficient revenue and create enough wealth to cover for our per capita expenditures.

De-regularization and abolition of controls and restrictions on the exploitation of our marine resources and in fact all our natural resources, for that matter, for our local people to partake is imperative if our country is anxious not to fall into the poverty trap. Our tuna industry is already bearing fruits with revenue surpassing our main tourism industry, on more than one occasion. In order for our country to create wealth, President Michel should insist that Seychellois entrepreneurs be allowed to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and exploit our natural resources to its optimum. Like Mutumwa D. Mawere stated recently in The Africa Report 2007: “Africa is for sale and yet Africans are not allowed to participate in the market by their own governments” We are in danger of the same thing being said for Seychelles!