In the recent weeks, residents, fishermen and tourists alike have been complaining of excessive fish netting activities in the bay very near to the beach at Beau Vallon. Apparently a group of fishermen from nearby Bel Ombre are responsible for these activities. It has been reported that they are using more than one fibreglass fishing boat to carry out their operation of fishing mackerel and any other variety of fish which happen to fall prey to their nets. The nets are left in place for hours before being retrieved. These nets are designed to be invisible to the naked eye when laid out in the sea and swimmers could easily get themselves entangled in it. These activities are being conducted without regards to other beach users in the area, especially tourists enjoying a swim in the sea.
This exercise is beginning to have a negative impact on tourism related activities in the area. It is also contributing to the destruction of whatever little marine life was left for visitors and locals to enjoy and it is damaging further the environment. The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), the Environment Department and the Police at Beau Vallon have all been made aware of this situation. It remains to be seen if something could be done to put an end to this operation. The culprits are claiming that they have contacts in high places, at State House, to be exact. We are waiting to see if it is not a case of “killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!”