Seychelles Fishing Authority Strategic Plan 2018 – 2020.

This Strategic Plan sets out the long-term vision, mission and adopted values of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). It provides the strategic priorities of the organization for the next 3 years. Its purpose is to ensure that SFA remains focus on its priorities and makes available the resources required for the achievement of its strategic goals. The SFA Strategic Plan should ideally be guided by the sector plans for fisheries and mariculture from the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. However, in the absence of updated sector plans it builds on other national policies, such as: Fisheries Policy of Seychelles (2005) and National Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2013). It is aligned with other international and national instruments and strategies concerning fisheries and the management of Seychelles marine ecosystems, such as: United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Vision 2032 for the Fisheries Sector, Seychelles Sustainable Development Strategy (2012- 2020), Seychelles National Aquaculture Policy (2018) and Seychelles National Agriculture Investment Plan, 2015–2020 (pag. 6).
This Strategic Plan is intended to guide section heads and staff of the SFA in the development of their section plans, fisheries management plans and fisheries development plans. The Diagnostic Analysis Report can be found in Annex 1 and provides detailed description of current situation and assessment of SFA’s performance over the last decade. The diagnostic analysis provides the justification for the strategies and priority actions which have been identified as part of this Strategic Plan (pag. 6). The overall goal of the Seychelles National Aquaculture Policy is to guide an effectively managed and environmentally responsible aquaculture industry that contributes towards food security and the creation of wealth in the Seychelles (pag. 16). Fisheries management should promote the maintenance of the quality, diversity and availability of fishery resources in sufficient quantities for present and future generations in the context of food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development (pag. 53).
The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) was created in August 1984 by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (Establishment) Act. This was at a time when the industrial tuna fishing sector started seeing intense development. At creation, the SFA’s mission was to develop the fishing industry to its fullest potential and to safeguard the resource base for sustainable development. The organization employs more than 150 staff and a number of operational sections involved in: fisheries management, economic planning, research, mariculture development, fishing ports operation, value addition, infrastructure development, licensing, data and statistics, monitoring, control and surveillance and providing support to fishermen (pag. 6).
The functions of SFA are: promote, organize and develop fishing, fishing industries and fishing resources; assist in the formulation of the national policy with respect to fishing, fishing industries and fishing resources and in the implementation of that policy; conduct negotiations, or engage in meetings, seminars or discussions, with regard to fishing or fisheries or the establishment or operation of fishing industries, whether at a national or international level, on behalf of the Republic or otherwise; identity the manpower training requirements of Seychelles with regard to fishing and fishing industries; etc. The new vision for the SFA states: Excellence in sustainable fisheries management and development. Its mission aims to ensure optimal use of fisheries resources for the benefit of people through sustainable management, ecosystem-based approaches and integrated development. The core principles is to implement the mandates in a manner which promotes good governance, transparency, participation and accountability, according to internationally recognized best practices in fisheries management (pag. 17).
Four key strategic goals form the strategic plan structure. Each of the strategic goal builds on one of the four main components of fisheries management: (i) effective governance, (ii) fishery management institution, (iii) resource base and (iv) economic and social benefits derived from fisheries. The strategic goals are as follows. Goal 1: Effective governance arrangements Project SFA as the legal authority among various stakeholders through acceptance of responsibility for its decision and actions and reinforcing mechanisms for accountability and good governance. Goal 2: Institutional strengthening of SFA, Improve institutional infrastructure, build core competencies and strengthen the internal procedures of SFA. Goal 3: Ensure sustainability of fisheries resources, Manage fisheries resources through ecosystem-based approaches and ensure that policies, legislation and infrastructure development are aligned towards achieving sustainability, taking into account climate change and global developments. Goal 4: Optimize the economic and social benefits of fisheries Ensure that the fisheries sector continues to play a key role in the sustainable development of the country and the socio-economic well-being of the nation (pag. 18).
External issues that can affect the performance of SFA and implementation of this Strategic Plan falls in six different categories which are political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal in nature. In particular, climate change could lead to more abnormal environmental events and increase variability in species biology and stock sizes. Natural disasters leading to damage of SFA and fisheries infrastructure and increase in operational risks. Pressures from environmental groups to reduce environmental impacts of fisheries (pag. 41).