Fisheries Sector Policy and Strategy 2019.

The overall goal of the Policy is to provide effective, efficient, transparent and accountable service delivery through a participatory approach to ensure long-term sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management and conservation so that the sector continues to play a key role in the sustainable development of the country and the socio-economic well-being of the Seychellois nation.
The Policy seeks to contribute to food security and poverty reduction. One of the policy objectives is to stimulate economic growth and transformation of the economy to create decent work, and vibrant, equitable and sustainable livelihoods contributing towards food security for all.
The Policy seeks to make fisheries more productive and sustainable. The key policy objectives include:1. Manage fisheries resources through ecosystem-based approaches and ensure that policies, legislations and infrastructure development are aligned towards achieving sustainability, taking into account climate change, international commitments and global developments; 2. Foster optimum utilisation of fisheries and aquaculture resources to ensure ecological and socioeconomic sustainability in resource-use and domestic developments, while recognising traditional norms; 3. Safeguard the welfare of current and future generations, recognising gender equity and vulnerable groups, and protecting the country’s sovereignty and jurisdiction; etc. One of the major challenges of the fisheries sector is elimination of Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Reporting, monitoring, control of transhipment and landing of tuna in Seychelles’ ports and inadequate surveillance of local waters are issues to be urgently addressed due to the lack of human and financial resources. To strengthen the MCS system and improve law enforcement and compliance, key actions include: Adopt a national Monitoring, Control and Surveillance strategy and National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. Develop a risk assessment approach for patrol at sea as part of the MCS strategy; Pursue Seychelles active involvement at the regional and international level in the fight against IUU fishing and strengthening of MCS measures; Promote the collaboration between fishers and MCS authorities in providing information to deter IUU fishing activities and develop with the industry a framework for self or joint enforcement activities.
The Policy supports enabling more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. It proposes: to maximise net economic benefits from resource use in all waters under national jurisdiction and across all value chains and reinvest the benefits nationally, in the modernisation of the local fisheries and development of the aquaculture sector; to promote the use of rights-based management approaches supported by best available scientific research and industry practices across fisheries and aquaculture; reinforce the development of human resources through effective capacity programmes and training certification for marine fisheries education for the future growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors; etc.
The Policy also seeks to encourage innovative longer-term research aimed at an understanding of possible climate change impacts on the fisheries sector and of the adaptation that may be required of the sector.
In terms of governance, to achieve the objectives of this policy and to ensure good governance, the actions are proposed, including: Promote fisheries management and aquaculture development based on the Ecosystems Approach to Fisheries, the Ecosystems Approach to Aquaculture, the FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, the FAO voluntary instrument for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries and the guidelines laid down therein, as well as the FAO Technical Guidelines for Aquaculture Development, as well as the relevant provisions of the SADC/IOC Protocol on Fisheries; Improve institutional infrastructure, build core competencies and strengthen the internal procedures of SFA to build and inspire human capacity for better service delivery; etc.