Maritime industry gets President’s attention

Presidential tour of key maritime agencies

SEYCHELLES: Over the last week President Dr Patrick Herminie has visited both the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) as well as the Seychelles Coast Guard jetty where a project to modernise facilities is currently underway.

Touring the SFA offices on Praslin, the President was given a a firsthand account of its day-to-day operations and update on ongoing initiatives.

Officials outlined the authority’s mandate in managing and regulating Seychelles’ fisheries sector, with particular emphasis on ensuring the sustainability in a sector that remains a cornerstone of the national economy.

Updating the president on efforts to strengthen local fisheries governance, support artisanal fishers, and enhance the monitoring and enforcement of fishing regulations in surrounding waters, SFA officials also provide a brief on revenue generation trends and the broader economic contributions of fisheries activities on the island.

The President extended his visit to the nearby fish market, highlighting connection between the authority’s regulatory work and the livelihoods of the wider local fishing community.

During his visit he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening the Blue Economy through responsible resource management, support for artisanal fishers, improved regulatory oversight and greater investment in maritime sustainability, noting that the fisheries sector remains vital not only to national economic resilience, but also to food security, employment and the livelihoods of Seychellois communities across the islands.

Project scrutiny

Visiting the site of the project to modernise the Seychelles Coast Guard jetty at Baie Ste Anne, the President was briefed on the scope of works being undertaken in partnership with the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), aimed at transforming the former ferry terminal into a safe, functional, and properly equipped operational base for coast guard officers.

He toured the site, inspecting existing structures and the areas earmarked for improvement, and received updates on the project’s timeline and objectives from accompanying officials.

Once complete, the upgraded facility is expected to sharpen the Coast Guard’s capacity to respond rapidly to incidents in the waters surrounding Praslin and La Digue, with officers based on the island better positioned to act without the delays associated with deployment from Mahé.

The jetty was formally transferred from the Seychelles Ports Authority to the Seychelles Coast Guard in August 2023, following the relocation of the ferry and passenger services to the newly built ERO terminal elsewhere in Baie Ste Anne. The structure has served the Praslinois and the wider maritime sector since 1970’s, functioning for decades as the principal hub for inter-island passenger and cargo movement between Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue.

PHOTO: President Dr Patrick Herminie visited the Seychelles Coast Guard jetty where a project to modernise facilities is currently underway.