Slope snapper Pristipomoides filamentosus Mahé Plateau 34 R None Note: Catch has remained constant. The MSY for the Mahé Plateau is 268t, and has not been exceeded over the last decade. Infact yield has been significantly below MSY and continues to be lower. Stocks were overfished in the early 1990s and is believed to be still recovering Octopus Granitic islands 28.7 - None Note: This species is fished inshore by skin divers. Resources further offshore are unexploited. Resource potential and status is not Species/Complexes/Groups Fishing Grounds Average Catch (t) Stock status Management Measure(s) Sea cucumber Mahé & Amirantes stocks 530 F, O Limited entry, gear restrictions, 100% inspection on landing Note: Catches has gone up by approx 26% in 2007. CPUE trend vary by species but are decreasing for high value species. Yields for several high value species exceeded TACs in 2007, including Holothuria spp. which is one of the highest value species in the catch. Bivalves – Unknown U Note: Only very small subsistence fisheries exist, no monitoring or indication of status. Fish Multispecies Demersal line fish stocks 2204 F-O None Note: Overall, an increase by 23% was recorded in 2007 catch and a yield was greater than the MSY. Several demersal (indicators species) stocks are fully or overexploited. Lutjanus bohar Mahé Plateau 72.2 - None Note: No recent assessments since 2005 study, so status unsure. However, high fishing pressure continues in the absence of management measures, so concerns over stock remain. Lutjanus sebae Mahé Plateau 1060 O None Note: Per recruit assessments done in 2008 indicate over-exploitation in recent years. The previous MSY was overestimated and 2007 catch is more than 4 times greater than revised MSY estimate (208 t). Stock overexploited and requires urgent management. Aprion virescens (Note 12) Mahé Plateau 660 F None
4.1 Policy Legislation Present Comment Fisheries Act Yes Fisheries (Ammendment) Act of 2001 / Fisheries Policy of 2005 Aquaculture Act No Mariculture in Seychelles falls under the jurisdiction of the Fisheries Act of 2001 Aquaculture Policy No The Fisheries Policy of 2005 is supportive of mariculture development. Notably paragraphs 4.1.5 and 5.1.4 state: “4.1.5 Aquaculture research and development will focus on consolidating the actual production and facilitate development in new breeding techniques for suitable species.” And; “5.1.4 The Government will promote responsible research and development of aquaculture and ensure that this development is ecologically sustainable, and allows the rational use of resources shared by aquaculture and other activities. Aquaculture will be promoted with the aim of minimizing adverse environmental changes and related economic and social consequences.” Sub-sector development plans No Aquaculture Master plan No In 2010, and with funding from the African Development Bank, the Seychelles is planning to develop an aquaculture Masterplan. A major thrust of this plan is likely to be the promotion of marine finfish cage farming. Aquaculture zoning No Aquaculture zoning will be undertaken as a component of the development of the aquaculture Masterplan. Environmental Management Acts Yes Environmental Protection Act of 1994 covers the EIA procedures. Additional legislation that is of relevance for mariculture includes: National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act of 1969 (Chapter 141) – for mariculture in Marine Parks. Town and Country Planning Act of 1972 – for land based mariculture (currently under review). Maritime Zones Act, No. 2 of 1999 – for sea based mariculture EIA Requirements Yes Any new mariculture venture is subject to an environmental impact assessment as prescribed by the Environmental Protection Act of 1994. 4.2 Governance
(Chapter 71) Solid Waste Agency) Regulations, SI No. 48 of 1995 Ministry of Environment • Environment Protection (Standards) Regulations, SI No. 83 of 1995 • Environment Protection (Miscellaneous) Regulations, SI No. 84 of 1995 • Environment Protection (Impact Assessment) Regulations, SI No. 39 of 1996 • Environment Protection (Marine Parks Authority) SI No. 54 of 1996 • Environment Protection (Fixed Penalty) Order, SI No. 51 of 1999 Fisheries Act of 1987 (Chapter 82) • Fisheries Regulations, SI No. 35 of 1987 Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries (Amendment) Act, No. 3 of 1997 Resources Fisheries (Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 2001 Maritime Zones Act, No. 2 of 1999 Port and Marine Services Ministry of Environment Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) (Seychelles) • The Oil Pollution (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations, Port and Marine Services, of 1975 (Chapter 128) SI No. 8 of 1976 Ministry of Environment National Parks and Nature Conservancy • Management of protected areas Division of Environment, Act of 1969 (Chapter 141) Ministry of Environment Protected Areas Act of 1967 (Chapter 185) Division of Environment, Ministry of Environment Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act of 1961 Division of Environment, (Chapter 247) Ministry of Environment Governance Institution Type Activities and responsibilities Ministry of Environment (MoE) Government National Human Resources Development Council (NHRDC) Government HR data collection Sectoral needs assessments Training Seychelles Investment Bureau Parastatal Match-Making Petroleum activities promotion Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec) Parastatal Upstream and downstream Oil activities National Interministerial Committee High-level government interministerial body Policy, and and macroeconomic decisions Port and Marine Services Division, Ministry of Environment Government Control of ship-borne waste pollution Control of oil spills Control of marine pollution Seychelles Bureau of Standards Parastatal Laboratory analysis Information provision Standards development and implementation Seychelles Coast Guard Division, Ministry of Defence Government Patrolling of territorial waters Control of maritime pollution