ILLEGAL FISHING IN SEYCHELLES WATERS!
After tourism, fishing remains the second pillar of the economy. It once surpassed tourism in the amount of money it brought into the country. However, this precious resource is now under serious threat. It is estimated that Seychelles is losing millions in hard currency as a result of illegal fishing in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). We are aware of at least one scam, which have been in operation for a very, very long time, involving a powerful individual who sees himself as the owner of all things offshore in Seychelles. It also involves collaborators from Mauritius. These pirates come into our territory with the sole aim of stealing from us with the permission of their friend. They fish the best and most valuable species to their heart’s content and vanish with their valuable illegal catch back to Mauritius where it is laundered on the local seafood market.
Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly also exposed a scam last year involving a blue fishing boat full to the brim with Chinese and plastic barrels which entered our seas. At the time it was suspected that the owner was secretly being issued a licence to fish sea cucumber. It was also alleged that the lady had paid a huge sum of money under the table for the privilege of the much sought after licence. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly carried an article entitled “Corruption at SFA” and the SFA reacted by going on television to deny the story. SFA claimed that the boat had come to Seychelles to engage in long line fishing. Until today, the boat has remained idle in our Port without engaging in any fishing activity whatsoever. All the Chinese crew has also been repatriated to China. This has given credence to our article that indeed there was something suspicious going and was it not for Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly, a sea cucumber licence would have been issued without anybody noticing.
Glenny Savy also experimented with live fishery in Seychelles when he was instrumental in assisting some dubious Hong Kong investors to obtain a licence to engage in this type of fishery here. However, the marine environment was subjected to irreparable damage as the so-called investors employed unconventional and controversial fishing methods to stun the fish and then transport them live on a long and arduous journey to Hong Kong where many died along the way. The damage was so great that the government took the drastic step of banning live fishery altogether in Seychelles. Another Glenny Savy fiasco was the saga which surrounded the “Spirit of Koxe” which again cost the country millions in foreign exchange. When he took power in 2004 President James Michel decided that enough was enough and replaced Savy as the Head of SFA.
The Democratic Party attaches great importance to the Fishing industry and last year our Member of the National Assembly, the Honourable Mr. Frank Elizabeth, stood up to be counted when he voted in favour of an agreement between Seychelles and France for the latter to patrol our Exclusive Economic Zone. This, despite opposition from the SNP who abstained “en bloc” without any apparent valid reason, when it came to voting. Although this allegedly caused the breakup of the Opposition Alliance and our Member getting kicked out of the Assembly, the Democratic Party won a moral and political victory for its stance as most people agreed that our Member did the right thing.
However, the Democratic Party believed that the government should invest more in this industry and take it to the next level. Technology exists for a viable industry in fish farming and sea cucumber farming on one of our many outer islands. This need to be explored and develop expansively if Seychelles is going to derive the maximum benefits from this fishery.
