51 Sealife Magazine Is free diving dangerous? In my perspective, the answer is no. If you’ve done a course and you know what you’re doing, then freediving isn’t dangerous. A lot of people think that freediving is dangerous but this happens when you don’t have the experience. You have to know how to swim first, and then learn the right steps on how to free dive then move from there. You spend a lot of time in the sea, how is that experience for you? I absolutely love the ocean and I am very passionate about free diving. I am very lucky to pursue something that I love. It is my work which is amazing. There are days whereby it can get too much, being wet all the time, and sometimes it can get cold when there is rain or a storm or strong ocean currents. These factors can make it stressful and tough. However, 60 to 70 percent of the time it’s wonderful. It is also therapeutic and helps me deal with a lot of situations in life. In a nutshell, describe a day in your life as a free diver. I freelance, and work when people book courses and sessions. With this, my day job changes every single day. In a day, I wake up at five to be at the Roche Caiman swimming pool at six, where I then train the freediving community till around eight, because we are holding the first-ever free diving competition on the 23rd of July 2023. Once I’ve finished around eight I go to work which is where I go on a boat, diving in the morning and afternoon until four o’clock. I then go back to the pool until seven in the evening and train the freediving community for those who didn’t have a chance for the morning session. It is so amazing to see how people grow, learn and find free diving carrying massive health, fitness, and mental benefits. I was a free diver already but didn’t have the proper techniques and education about it. I have been living in Seychelles my entire life, and went to the United Kingdom to study film, then Covid 19 happened which affected everyone around the world. So I now combine film and freediving. While diving are you able to observe marine life? As a free diver, I get to see very cool marine life such as turtles, sharks, and octopuses. Last year we saw around thirty whale sharks almost every single day between October and November. It’s great just being in the water with them and learning about them. I used to be scared of sharks and I am not anymore. I have been freediving with around thirty grey reef sharks and can get up to two and a half meters. Before I thought they were scary animals because that’s what everyone is told, and free diving with them I realize that they are just extremely beautiful creatures, not curious about humans and living their own life.
52 Sealife Magazine I f you are a diver, you will always remember your first breath under water, and coming up from your first dive ever with a big smile on your face. Scuba diving is an experince and a great to get away from all the noise, and the troubles in the world. As soon as you descend into the waters you hear nothing but your own breathing under water. The beauty of the marine life is astonishing. Here in Seychelles we have a land mass of just about 485 square km, and nearly 1.4 million square km of ocean. A very good reason to discover what lies below this beautiful blue surface. Compared to snorkeling, scuba diving allows us to see much more of the underwater world. About 226,000 species of marine Get Your Padi Contributed by Big Blue Divers life discovered and identified, research confirms that 60 to 80 per cent of species in the world’s oceans still remains unknown. Many marine species have been discovered in the past decade more than ever with an average of 2,000 discoveries per year. The new species discovery rate is still increasing for species in the ocean, while this is no longer the case on land.
53 Sealife Magazine Divers certified between the ages of 10-14 earn a Junior Diver certification. Once you have completed the PADI Open Water Diver course you will receive your certification with a PADI eCard, which can be saved on your smartphone for easier access of proof of your PADI certification on the PADI App. Exploration & discoveries Now that you have your PADI OW certification you can explore different dive locations. Though you may dive at the same dive site, every dive experience is different, every time as you’ll see new creatures and discover new spots on the reef. No dive is ever the same! And of course you will have great stories about your own underwater adventures and discoveries into the underwater world. It is also nice to hear what others have experienced, which will make you want to discover more dive sites and new encounters. Advanced adventures Time to join for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course to learn the basics of how to safely make and enjoy deep dives, learn more about navigating underwater to ensure you find your way around the dive sites, and different diving techniques such as drift diving, wreck diving, or how to fine tune buoyancy to maximize time underwater, gain more knowledge about the different species of marine life, coral reef conservation techniques, underwater photography, to name a few of the possibilities. Discovering the underwater world is truly an incredible experience and completely different from earth. You certainly find marine life you have never seen before! Another great thing is that diving is the closest thing to feeling like you are in space! You experience no gravity, which makes you feel like you’re weightless and free to move in any direction. So how to get started? You can try scuba diving with the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program and see if you enjoy the experience of breathing and being underwater. Many people just know they will love diving and go straight for the beginner’s course: PADI Open Water Diver. With this course you learn the basics how to dive independently with qualified diver in similar environment. During the PADI Open Water Diver course you will learn how to set up, use, and care for the equipment, buoyancy skills to move in the water, how to communicate, and how to prevent problems plus what to do when something goes wrong, and of course how to stay safe together and have fun diving with a buddy. You start the PADI Open Water Diver course with the theory portion through PADI eLearning. The elearning platform allows you to study at your convenience to fit your busy schedule. You can study offline, or online using a computer or a mobile device. Once you have completed the theory portion of the course you can schedule the practical portion of the course to learn the dive skills, the practical diving training can be completed in a minimum two days or spread over a longer period. Can anyone join? Kids from the age of 8 until 11 can try scuba diving with the PADI BubbleMaker Program and experience the underwater world on a very shallow coral reef under the direct guidance of a PADI Instructor. The PADI Open Water Diver course is available for anyone from age 10. You must be able to swim, be medically fit for scuba diving, and feel comfortable in the water.
54 Sealife Magazine Staff Instructor so you can guide and mentor Instructor candidates. Whichever is your goal, the great thing about scuba diving is you visit places, meet new people, and you experience great adventures together! The theory portion of the course is offered with PADI eLearning so you can complete it at your own leisure. And the practical portion takes 5 different adventure dives to complete in 2 or more days. And of course you can learn much more with Specialty Diver courses to get in depth knowledge and training about the marine life, and ecology programs, or learn something new such as side mount diving, night diving, or diving with enriched air diving , all whilst discovering the underwater world with the guidance of your PADI Instructor. Be a safe diver Of course, it won’t happen to you, but what if…? Are you ready then? As with every sport something can go wrong, and you want to be prepared,knowing what can go wrong or caused problems prevention is the best remedy. This is what you learn during the PADI Rescue Diver course, how to recognize telltale signs of potentially dangerous situations, fix minor issues, and forsee problems ahead, deal with an emergency, gain confidence while having fun along the way. Many divers say the Rescue Diver course is their favourite scuba diving course. Professional career in Scuba Diving Whether you want to hone your skills and dive like a pro, or perhaps you are a people person and you like to turn your passion into a career, you can join the ranks of PADI professionals worldwide. The PADI Divemaster Course is the first professional diver level. This program introduces you to the concepts, skills, and knowledge necessary to assist with diving courses, programs, and to dive with people from all over the world. You will be working with technology, specialized equipment, people who are happy to go diving with you, and your office is the ocean. If you think you will love teaching people and seeing a smile on their faces after they surface from their first ever dive with you, then becoming a PADI Instructor is definitely a great career choice for you! The PADI OWSI Instructor rating allows you to teach entry level as well as advanced Scuba Diving courses & programs. With our own Course Director Big Blue Divers offers the opportunity to become a PADI OWSI Instructor on a regular basis, starting with the first Instructor Development Course at the end of June, a second IDC starts in September, and a third IDC in November. As a PADI OWSI Instructor you can teach beginner and core scuba diving courses & programs. You can also specialize to teach Specialty Diver courses Deep, Wreck, and Enriched Air Nitrox Diving are some popular ones. But there are many more great choices. Naturally you can take it one step further and climb up the ladder to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer when you hold the ratings to teach at least 5 different Specialty Courses. And if you enjoy teaching like we do, you can go further to the top and assist with teaching the Instructor Development Courses and become an IDC S E Y C H E L L E S PA D I 5 S TA R D I V E R E S O R T PADI Discover Scuba Diving Try diving with our 3 hour beginners program incl. an Instructor accompanied dive on a coral reef PADI Certification courses Do your PADI Open Water Diver with us Advanced Open Water Diver course Specialty courses Flexible course schedule, just ask us. PADI Professional courses Start your professional career Divemaster course IDC & IE programs Specialty Instructor courses Gift vouchers available Snorkel/Scuba equipment and accessories sales. You will find us next to the Divers Lodge, Beau Vallon, Mahe GoogleMap search: Big Blue Divers Mob. WhatsApp: 2511103 /2514304 /2787118 Dive Center: 4261106 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.bigbluedivers.net Let’s Dive... Live and
55 Sealife Magazine I t’s a bright Saturday morning in November 2020 and you can feel the excitement building at Eden Marina as camera equipment and provisions are carted back and forth to the berth. Somehow the team has to fit a 100kg concrete mooring (for a hydrophone) onto the luxury catamaran hired by the researchers and film crew for the 21-day cruise along the northern edge of the Mahe Plateau. With the help of an old yoga mat, luckily in the back of my car, the team manages to carefully manoeuvre the heavy and cumbersome mooring onboard. It’s tightly secured and the rest of the camera gear, luggage and provisions all find a place onboard what is quickly becoming a very crowded yacht. Although I cannot join the team this year, one lucky University of Seychelles student will be joining the crew – Ella Nancy (the Whale Lady). Ella has a contagious passion for the environment. I met Ella as a firstyear student in my class in the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science programme, and quickly this young Seychellois showed herself to be a competent field researcher with a love for the ocean. But this was not Ella’s start to a career as an environmental scientist. She already completed a two-year course in fisheries science and technology, and through the Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF) worked as a field ranger on Desroches, Silhouette, Aride and Aldabra! Whale Lady of Seychelles By Dr. Nuette Gordon- Head of Dept Environmental Science , Unisey
56 Sealife Magazine chelles to these whales? And how are we going to protect them? That is precisely what the aim of this project was. During the cruise, the team was lucky enough to encounter twelve different species of cetaceans over the twenty-one days, with some groups of dolphins being over four hundred individuals in size! That’s a lot! And most excitingly – they found Blue Whales! A group of about three! The team was ecstatic and dozens of photographs were taken, the film crews had all cameras out, drones were sent overhead to capture aerial shots and the underwater dive team It is also through SIF that Ella obtained a scholarship to study at UniSey, and what an investment it has been. But let us get back to this research cruise! The team departs Mahe and set sail for Denis Island as their main point of operations search for the biggest mammals on earth – the Blue Whales, and of course any other whales and dolphins that might be seen along the way, (By the way, scientists use the term “cetaceans” to refer to whales and dolphins.) Historically, the Seychelles has been a haven for whales with Soviet fleets hunting whales during most of the 20th century. Interestingly these whaling records are some of the only sources of information we have today about the number and different species of whales that were found in Seychelles, and although some surveys have been done recently, we still have a big gap in the data. Considering that Blue Whales and many other species of whales are listed as endangered, we have to ask? Are they still here? And if so, how many whales live in the Seychelles water? What species of whales are found in our waters? How important are the SeydescendedWhat a day it must have been! On top of the Blue Whales, there were also Bryde’s whales, Sei whales, Pygmy killer whales, Sperm whales and Short-finned pilot whales were spotted. What an amazing find? But that is not where it all ends. In November 2021, the cruise was repeated and even more whales and dolphins were found, with tons of footage taken for the formulation of an IMAX documentary called – “Blue Whales: The Return of the Giants 3D” (It premiered on 25 May 2023 so go have a look if you can). The hydrophone deployed on Denis Island in 2020 has also been recording amazing whale songs and clicks since and continues to record till November of this year (and hopefully beyond) when the team will visit the area again to retrieve the recordings and replace the batteries. For Ella, these trips have provided important data she has used in her research thesis that focuses on Baleen whales. She has been able to assess the distribution of these whales along the northern region of Seychelles and pinpoint hotspot areas where certain species occur (e.g. deep-water areas or sloped areas). This information is very impor- Ella in Sri Lanka busy modelling habitat and acoustic data (Photo credits Ella Nancy)
57 Sealife Magazine of cetaceans in my home country Seychelles.” As Ella has inspired me and many others that have met her, I hope this little account of her research and love for cetaceans in the Seychelles, has also inspired you. The Seychelles is a beautiful ocean state with vast resources, one and probably the most important, being its rich marine life. To ensure that this remains so for our future generations, we have to work together to help conserve and protect not only key species such as whales but also their habitat. tant to researchers, conservationists and decision-makers as we can all work together to help implement protection measures for these species and to create awareness of their importance culturally and to the environment. Furthermore, Ella has been attending workshops in Sri Lanka, funded by the Bertarelli Foundation, and organised by the Oceanswell Foundation towards “Quantitative skills for Ecologist” where she learned how to analyse large data sets for modelling habitats and to analyse acoustic data (i.e., whale songs and clicks). As Ella states: “The opportunities presented to me have not only allowed me to expand my knowledge in this field, but it has also provided me with the chance to network and meet new individuals who share similar interests. These connections may prove to be valuable in the future as potential collaborators or sources of information. I am beyond grateful for these opportunities and all the support that I got regarding my thesis. There is still so much more to learn and I am prepared to seize any additional opportunities that present themselves to contribute to the conservation We gratefully acknowledge our research partners in this project, Dr Jeremy Kiszka (Florida International University), Dr Kate Stafford (University Washington), Hugh Pearson (Director: Oceanic Films) and his film crew. If you want to know more about this or other projects being conducted by the University of Seychelles, please visit our website at https://beri. unisey.ac.sc or www.unisey. ac.sc. To learn more about the documentary filmed or about Blue whales, you can visit Blue Whales - Return of the Giants (bluewhalesfilm.com). Ella in Sri Lanka busy modelling habitat and acoustic data (Photo credits Ella Nancy)
58 Sealife Magazine 3-YEAR / 100 000 KM FACTORY WARRANTY Model/s shown may differ. E&OE. Avenue d’Arhoa, Providence, Victoria, Seychelles Providence Hwy Autoland Complex, Providence, Seychelles Tel: +248 4 389 444 | [email protected] | www.executivemotors.sc 25480 ADMAKERS.COM The All-New ISUZU D-MAX. Our Boldest Pick-up yet. THE BOLD NEW AGE
59 Sealife Magazine Observers are the only independent data collection source for some types of at-sea activities. The information they collect supports science, conservation, and management activities, as well as compliance with fishing and safety regulations. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in its Resolution 11/04 said an “Observer means a person who collects information on board fishing vessels, in the framework of observer programmes, can be used inter alia for monitoring fishing activities, quantifying species composition of target species and bycatch, whether they are retained or discarded and deploying or collecting tags.” Simply put, observers collect data on species composition of catch, weights of fish caught, disposition of landed species, protected species interactions, and more. Role of Fishery Observers By Christine Ouma For example, some observers working on processing vessels collect stomach content data to inform fishery life history and diet research; these data would be difficult to collect otherwise. In some fisheries, observers provide valuable assistance to researchers by assisting with tagging projects involving sharks, tunas, sablefish, spiny lobsters, swordfish, and even some species of sea turtles and the conditions under which endangered species are released.
60 Sealife Magazine aboard the Purse Seiner fleet. Also , in Seychelles, it is those who have gone through training at the Seychelles Maritime Academy who are then given further training on species identification, fishery management and regulations, safety, and data collection. Furthermore, the observers are typically scientific observers and not compliance observers, explained Tirant. For instance, boats are not allowed to throw any tuna that has been caught. Previously, they were permitted to throw away small-sized tuna that had been caught. A species must now be transported back to port after being captured, according to Tirant. In a situation where a vessel is seen to be throwing away tuna, for example, the responsibility of the observer is to record the incident, take photos, and share them with superiors back on land who will subsequently address the boat owner with the proof. Besides that, observers also monitor and collect data where a vessel is fishing, the type of gear used – drifting fish aggregating devices (FADS), that is whether the FAD is biodegradable or not. Observers work side-by-side with fishermen on the vessels they monitor, particularly the fishing masters. The duration of an observer’s deployment can vary from one day to weeks, or even months, often having to do their jobs in very cramped quarters and on rough seas. “Every observer is advised to take position every two hours - do something in between the working hours including during the off-duty times; generally, to keep themselves busy because life at sea is not the same as life on land,” said Tirant. However, this is compensated by the good wages/salaries,” he said. “One of the challenges we have at SFA is trying to find people who are willing to work as observers. Sometimes we do trainings with 20 people and only about 5 out of the 20 are retained,” he said. “Being at sea, especially on board a foreign fishing vessel means interacting with people from different nationalities and cultures. It requires a lot of mental strength and a great level of concentration, especially when the fishing master is setting the net,” continued Tirant. Observers also provide reports on interactions with banded seabirds, which are banded by scientists and resource managers to track representative data for individuals within a population. Having worked as an Observer since 1994, and finally advancing to the role of the Observer Logistic Coordinator - Fisheries Resource Management at the Seychelles Fishing Authority, Alex Tirant is well informed on the subject. His role includes recruiting and training observers, collecting and validating data and sending it to research partners both national and international, as well as sharing such information with IOTC scientists whose role includes stock analysis. Who becomes an Observer? Fishery observers and at-sea monitors are placed on select commercial fishing and processing vessels, at shoreside processing plants, and on motherships, although observers do not cover every vessel or facility. In Seychelles, the Industrial fisheries comprise of Purseseiners and Industrial Longliners. SFA places its observers
61 Sealife Magazine According to him, based on the knowledge and information he has acquired over the years, many fishing vessels, abide by the IOTC fishing operations standards. But that’s just the purse seiners fleets that each have an SFA observer onboard. Under IOTC Resolution 22/04, IOTC Scientific Committee expressed the concern on the low observer coverage level at 2.15% and on the fact that there is no coverage of the artisanal fleet, which comprise a large portion of catches taken in the Indian Ocean. It is also to be noted that Seychelles' overall quota for yellowfin tuna catch for 2022 was reduced by 9,184 tonnes by the IOTC as a payback provision for over-catch in 2020 by industrial longline fleets. Under IOTC Resolution 21/01, Seychelles qualified for a total yellowfin tuna allocation of 39,542 tonnes for 2022, covering catch from all fleets registered in Seychelles - purse seiners, industrial longliners and semiindustrial longliners. The penalty has since been removed, however, Seychelles including the EU has since welcomed the adoption of a measure to ensure the sustainable management for the bigeye tuna. The latter was adopted recently at the 27th annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), that took place from 8 to 12 May 2023 in Mauritius. It delivered some important results for sustainable fisheries in the Indian Ocean and concluded in the adoption of nine important conservation and management measures. The measure introduces clear catch limits for all countries fishing in the area to ensure that the global quota will not be exceeded. Furthermore, special provisions were agreed to enable coastal states to be able to develop their own fisheries. The EU agreed to contribute the most to the catch reduction, reducing EU catches by 18.7% against the 2017-2021 declared catch average. According to Alex, the quota on bigeyed tuna is a great indication that observers, in collaboration with scientists are monitoring maritime resources and through such work, sustainable measures are adopted, although more discussions are needed to find a resolution on fish aggregating devices as well as the establishment of a scheme for the boarding and inspection of vessels in the high seas.
62 Sealife Magazine NEW DESIGN SAME GREAT TASTE
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64 Sealife Magazine The Seychelles Fishing Authority has launched their first mobile app, ‘Fishbites’. This was symbolically held on the 21st of November 2022 as part of the activities to commemorate World Fisheries Day. Part of SFA’s mandate is to support the existing, and facilitate new fisheries sector investments, value addition and market development, while encouraging diversification of the fisheries sector. SFA also wanted to encourage the consumption of fish as the main source of protein. Therefore, numerous new fish recipes were developed for consumers. The challenge was to have an innovative way to get the public to access them and provide their feedback. Fishbites was launched so that the public can discover fish dishes as alternatives to their usual ‘go-to’ recipes that are healthy and easily accessible. SFA hopes to increase and improve the utilisation of local fish and fish products by creating diversification from the common species to many different kinds of fish that are available locally. Fishbites an innovative experience Contributed by SFA
65 Sealife Magazine five videos offers detailed step by step text recipes in three national languages Creole, English and French. SFA’s target is to update the app with twenty five new recipes every three months. Additional features found on the app include a section dedicated to research, providing the public with new information on activities being undertaken by SFA, and a section dedicated to Markets, which provides the location of fish markets and fish shops around the three main islands of Seychelles. In the long term, SFA will upgrade the Markets section of the App so that fishermen and fish shop owners can notify the app users when there are fish available and what type of fish or fishrelated products are available. Finally, the APP provides detailed information about the Product Development and Quality Assurance department of the SFA. As a key partner, the SFA wants to extend this campaign to the tourism sector, where visitors can have the cultural experience of buying and cooking local fish from the recipes on the app. SFA is also working on improving the App's content so that students can use it for educational purposes. With increased usage and feedback, SFA will better understand the needs of users and upgrade the App to meet these needs, continuously promote fish consumption, and educate the population about the work being done by SFA to better manage fish stock. "Fishbites" App can be downloaded for free on the APP Store for IOS users and Google Play for Android users. key information like studies and reports about fisheries in Seychelles. The app launched with twenty As an electronic software, "fishbites" has become the ideal platform that efficiently shares our recipes, along with other
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67 Sealife Magazine Thanks to the FITI programme the Seychelles Fishing Authority is able to maintain complete, updated records on large scale vessels licensed to fish in Seychelles’ waters. An updated registry in the form of a spreadsheet is published online on the SFA website. Information on this registry adheres mostly to the vessel attributes of the FiTI Standard. Assessment of SFA’s internal vessel records showed that all two hundred and fifteen vessels licensed in 2021 were included on this online vessel registry. Interestingly, the 2021 report states that there are gaps in the data of the published largescale vessel registry. For example, the yellow fin tuna quotas, allocated to Seychelles-flagged vessels, is not included. In 2020, Seychelles stood at sixty one large scale fishing vessels while Taiwan had the leading number with sixty six large scale fishing vessels. However, in 2021, Taiwan increased its fishing activities by introducing twenty seven more large scale fishing vessels with Seychelles number only increasing by nine large scale fishing vessels. The total increase in the number of large scale fishing vessels from 180 to 215 is largely due to an increase in Taiwan (POC) – flagged long-liners from sixty six in 2020 to 93 in 2021. FiTI Report suggests better management for fisheries By Christine Ouma
68 Sealife Magazine Besides Seychelles and Taiwan, there are 7 other official flagged large scale fishing vessels operating in Seychelles waters. They include vessels from China, Spain, France, Mauritius, Korea, Italy, Portugal and Oman This is according to the Seychelles’ Report to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) 2021 Summary. On the other hand, the average monthly number of active small-scale fishing vessels decreased from 371 in 2020 to 368 in 2021 in the Artisanal fisheries sector. The semi-industrial fisheries sector (longline fishery and sea cucumber fishery) however saw an increase in number of fishing licenses issued to smallscale fishing vessels, with 577 in 2020 and 692 in 2021. Small-scale fisheries in Seychelles (often also referred to as local fisheries) is defined in the Fisheries Comprehensive Plan as ‘a fishery using vessels less than 24 metres in length overall carrying out fishing activities within Seychelles’ territorial waters and EEZ and to a lesser extent on the high seas.’ The economic, social and cultural contributions of smallscale fishing are significant for Seychelles, as is its role in ensuring food security in terms of animal protein for the population of the country. Additionally, according to the summary of stock status of species (assessed by SFA since 2017), for the period of 2021, the blue marlin, longtail tuna, Narrow-barred spanish mackerel, prolonged spiny lobster, longlegged spiny lobster, white teatfish, flower teatfish were all found to be either subjects to overfishing (fishing pressure) or overfished (biomass). The famous yellowfin tuna, big eye tuna, brown spotted grouper, albacore are subject to overfishing however, their biomass indicate that they are not overfished. The overall post-harvest sector and fish trade (export of fish and fish products) has increased from SCR 4.994 billion in 2020 to 5.286 billion in 2021, with canned tuna topping the list of exported fish products. Payment from large-scale vessels authorized to fish in Seychelles’ waters for EU-flagged vessels amounted to a total of SCR 214,899,584 (38 vessels) in 2020 and SCR 181,426,517 (38 vessels) was paid for the right to fish in 2021. For non-EU-flagged vessels (142 vessels) a sum of SCR 69,871,590 was paid in 2020 and an amount totaling to SCR 76,870,189 (177 vessels) was paid for the right to fish in 2021. Payments for EU-flagged vessels consist of several categories, such as sectoral support, fishing opportunities and excess catch. However, payments made for non-EU-flagged vessels relate solely to fishing licenses in Seychelles’ waters. According to the 2021 report, a 37% change in the value of the Seychelles Rupee from SCR 26.43 in 2020 to SCR 16.60 in 2021 significantly impacted income from EU-flagged vessels in 2021. Such key findings done over the last two years, indicate that Seychelles has made undeniable progress in boosting transparency in its fisheries industry, thanks to the implementation of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI). This has resulted in a wealth of information being made available on government websites, such as that of the Seychelles Fishing Authority's, including stock assessments, revenue from fishing licenses, catch and landing data, subsidies, and a summary of the fisheries tenure arrangements for each of the country's fisheries in a userfriendly FAQ format. However, the impact of transparency is not solely based on the act of publishing information alone. It is dependent on how this information is used to contribute to efficient and sustainable fisheries management, as well as the ability for effective oversight, accountability, and public dialogue. It is for these reasons that a national workshop dubbed 'Utilising transparency efforts to support reforms of Seychelles' fisheries sector', jointly organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, and the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) was held in March 2023, at the Eden Bleu Hotel. The aims of this workshop were; to present the key findings of Seychelles' 2021 FiTI Report, with a particular focus on information relevant for Seychelles’ industrial/large-scale fisheries; to discuss how such transparency efforts can support national reform priorities for Seychelles' fisheries sector and to understand participatory mechanisms in Seychelles’ fisheries. “The reports from 2019 and 2021 show that the fishing industry is publishing more accurate information, which is positive as the public can always access the most recent data.
69 Sealife Magazine When we talk about transparency, we talk about access to information and the ease of information and we have to make the material easier to understand for readers,” said Mrs. Daniella Larue, Seychelles, ’FiTI Report Compiler 2021. “If we look into industrial fishing, we can see that there are enough data, particularly about the number of boats involved in the industry and their earnings. The public needs to know who the owners are and what is the impact on the economy. These are some of the information that is still unclear, although we have received more information about the fuel and ice subsidies for the artisanal sector,” added Mrs. Larue. As part of the 2021 FiTI reporting process, Seychelles’ National Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) determined 22 new recommendations to national authorities to further improve transparency in fisheries management. However, according to Mrs. Larue, the most crucial one is to make information understandable and accessible to all. Mr. Philippe Michaud, in his capacity as the Chair of the FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Group of Seychelles also added that the workshop was to get feedback from the stakeholders and identify ways for both sectors to advance. In the second workshop, regional stakeholders from various countries in the region exchanged ideas and viewpoints on how they conduct business. This included WWF Madagascar. To note, the objective of the FiTI is to support countries to progressively improve levels of transparency across their marine fisheries sector. In other words, the FiTI does not expect countries to have complete data for each of the FiTI Standard’s 12 transparency requirements from the outset. Instead, national authorities must disclose the information they have, and where important gaps exist, demonstrate improvements over time.
70 Sealife Magazine Boulet Pwason is one of the more popular items of Seychelles creole cuisine and generally calls for the freshest piece of "Karang" or Trevally, hence why it’s often called "Boulet Pwason",(fish balls). Other fish will do if you are hankering for these cute little fish cutlets and the desired fish is not available Ingredients •1 medium size onion, chopped or grated; •2 tsp crushed garlic; •2 tsp crushed ginger; •75 g plain flour; •2 eggs; •Oil for deep frying; •1 bunch green onion or chives, chopped •1 Sprig of thyme, leaves stripped; •1 tbsp chopped parsley; •1 hot chilli chopped- optional; •Salt and cracked pepper; •extra flour for coating the fish balls; Directions Boil some water in a medium size pan and add the fish and cook for approximately 10 minutes. Remove fish from cooking liquid, and transfer into a large bowl, allow to cool. Press the fish to extract excess liquid and roughly flake. Transfer the flaked precooked, or chopped fish into a bowl and mix in garlic, ginger, thyme, parsley and onion. Boulet Pwason (Fish balls) By Alvina Selwano
71 Sealife Magazine You may use gloved hand or a wooden spoon. When ingredients are well mixed add the eggs, flour, season and mix thoroughly again. You will end up with a moist, sticky soft paste. Spread some flour over a chopping board or work top. Oil your hands so that the paste does not stick to them when you are forming the balls, place it into the flour and gently roll into a rough ball. Carefully lift and place in the palm of your hand and gently shape into a ball of approximately 5 cm in diameter. The ball will now be very soft and smooth. Do not press the balls too firmly. Roll the ball again in the flour and keep aside ensuring all excess flour is shaken off. Repeat the process until you have consumed all your paste. Heat oil in a pan and fry off the fish balls for about 7-8 minutes, or until golden brown. occasionally turning them over. Serve accompanied with freshly made creole sauce or chilli sauce. You may decide to steam the fish instead of boiling it. The advantage in steaming in that the fish will not hold as much moisture as when it is boiled. It will end up with a more intense flavour. You may also decide to use a food processor if you are not keen on chopping the fish. Use the pulse mode so you have more control. Remember you do not want your paste to be too fine. No matter what kind of fish you use here, this recipe will have you wanting more. Photo credits: The Creole Melting Pot
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73 Sealife Magazine I n order to celebrate "International Ocean Day" 70 Seychellois women known as "Fanm Seselwa" along with Seychelles Women and Sports Association (SWASA) members sailed across 18 bays of Seychelles to raise money for the "Liam Rainbow Foundation,” and increase awareness of the oceans diversity, whilst highlighting the extraordinary maritime abilities of Seychelles women. The iconic voyage took place on the 10th of June 2023. The route passed through 18 bays showcasing the splendour of Seychelles' islands and marine environment for both local and foreign audiences. In this landmark journey of the sea, women were aired live together with videos depicting marine conservation, fisheries, Liam’s rainbow foundation, and profiles of the participants. Leaving Inter Island Quay very early in the morning, the all-female crew travelled to Anse Major, with a quick stop at Bel Ombre where some of the participants who were unable to complete the journey disembarked from catamaran 'Oplezir', assisted by the Seychelles Coast Guard Boat. The all-female crew comprised of the captain, the participants as well as live entertainment, which was performed by well-known artists Taniah, Telsy, and Antoinette Dodin, backed by the extremely skilled percussionist Vanessa Lucas who was also the assigned photographer. Around Seychelles in 18 Bays By Trisha Dennis
74 Sealife Magazine A special appreciation also went to DJ Spinella, who kept the entertainment rolling throughout the day, lifting vibes on the boat from bay to bay and filling the ambiance with excitement and energy. The crew stopped at Baie Ste Anne Praslin and exchanged several cultural displays. Praslin residents provided refreshments and made two donations to the Liam's Rainbow Foundation: one from the Unique Foundation and Praslin students contributing SCR 20,000, and the second contribution of SCR 5,000, came from Le Duc de Praslin hotel. Six female Praslinoise boarded the catamaran joining the all-female crew bound for La Digue. On La Digue, Cataleah Durup made another donation of SCR 2,000 to the foundation before the crew continued their journey, passing through Grand Soeur, Felicite, Cocos Island, and back to St Anne as the final and 18th bay of the day before docking at Inter Island Quay, Mahé.
75 Sealife Magazine Fishes caught by two fisher women onboard 'Oplezir,' was the highlight of the expedition, as it was extremely encouraging and amazing to see Seychellois women doing their jobs and demonstrating their abilities. The day came to a close, and the passengers rejoiced at the completion of the 12-hour cruise through 18 bays, an incredible achievement for the 70 women. Through this all female expedition, a total of over SCR91,000 was raised.
76 Sealife Magazine With the rising need to sensitise the public on the importance of sustainable oceans, The Danny Faure Foundation organised an Ocean Fair from 1st – 3rd June 2023 at the Camion Hall, in Victoria. The Fair dubbed ‘Sustainable Oceans’ was also part of the World Oceans Day celebrations which falls on 8th June. It boasted the participation of governmental and educational institutions, the fisheries industry, NGOs, and local artisans who showcased their achievements as well as projects to the general public. The stalls also had informational materials on display, educational games where visitors could test their knowledge, and items on sale. Among the sixteen participants was the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) which strategically invests in ocean stakeholders to generate new learning, bold action and sustainable blue prosperity in Seychelles. “The work that we do is directly related to the oceans. We fund ocean-related projects, we support the development of climate change resilience, and we also support the development of a sustainable blue economy for Seychelles,” said Marie-May Jeremie (Muzungaile), the Chief Executive Officer of SeyCCAT. First-ever Ocean Fair by the Danny Faure Foundation By Christine Ouma
77 Sealife Magazine sustainability, value and Market options. SeyCCAT also showcased the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan, which is an initiative that has been put together to manage the entire Seychelles EEZ. SeyCCAT, through its annual Blue Grant makes available funds to Individuals, NGOs and businesses. This year, the NGO has made available a sum of SCR31Million making the largest call for proposals yet. Over the years, SeyCCAT has funded sixty seven projects. Among them are; Impact of Artisanal Fishery on Species of Local Concern, Route To Market project, the Nekton Mission, and Voluntary Fisheries zone closure on Praslin project. The project – ‘Impact of Artisanal Fishery on Species of Local Concern’ for example, seeks primarily to develop pragmatic targeted co-management measures on ‘species of local concern’. The species identified by fishermen as being of concern due to declines in catch over the last 20-30 years. In a second instance, the project undertakes the first survey of the artisanal ray fishery identifying species composition, relative abundance, seasonal occurrence and population demography. The results are compiled into a report that will inform and provide recommendation for the National Plan of Action on the Management and Conservation of Sharks (NPOA). Additionally, the monitoring efforts is used to build on the data gathered under the 2017 GEF Satoyama project by doubling the dataset (12 months to 24 months) on the impact of the artisanal fishery on threatened species. The results of the data gathered for species of local concern are presented to the fishers to inform management measures. According to SeyCCAT, the objective of funding this project by the Green Islands Foundation is to empower the fisheries sector with robust science and knowhow to improve governance, “We hope that through our participation, we were able to raise awareness about the work that we do and more importantly how people can also join us in the efforts that we have,” MarieMay told SeaLife.
78 Sealife Magazine The Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment’s stall was also of particular interest. They showcased a bit of the work they do in relation to the ocean, for example, showcasing some of the invasive species that have been collected and preserved over the years. “We have a sea snake, believed to have been brought ashore by the strong waves of the 2004 Tsunami. It is a good thing that we found the sea snake because it is a poisonous species. Other species include the leaf-nosed bat which came on a ship. This shows that through ocean transportation we can bring in harmful species to our biodiversity, which is why we showcased it. “We also have specimen of sea turtle hatchlings which are not invasive, of course, they are native species in the Seychelles. Then there is the red-eared slider- a fresh water species of turtles. They live in the freshwater ecosystems like rivers and wetlands. It was brought to Seychelles as an exotic species. In the past, people were releasing them into the environment and they posed a threat to our endemic species. It is for these reasons that we eradicated the red-eared slider years ago,” explained Sophie Morel, a Conservation Officer at the Biodiversity and Conservation Division. This year, the United Nations celebrated World Oceans Day with the theme "Planet Ocean," aiming to unite decision-makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities, and youth activists in prioritising the ocean. Seychelles, with an Exclusive Economic Zone spanning 1.4 million square kilometers, boasts one of the most diverse marine ecosystems globally, with seagrass beds accounting for 99 percent of the blue carbon extent. Larrey Chetty, the spokesperson for the Danny Faure Foundation stated, "Everybody came together to showcase what we are doing together to protect and preserve the ocean; and for us to have a sustainable ocean." The opening ceremony of the Ocean Fair was also graced by the former President of Seychelles and Founder of the Danny Faure Foundation, Danny Faure and the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert. The Danny Faure Foundation aims to contribute to Seychelles' sustainable development and join global efforts in achieving a more equitable, just, sustainable, and healthy planet for present and future generations.
79 Sealife Magazine Energy Observer is the name of the first hydrogen-powered, zero-emission vessel to be self-sufficient in energy, advocating and serving as a laboratory for ecological transition. Energy Observer was in Seychelles for the 76th stopover of its round-the-world Odyssey. After 1,800 nautical miles and 17 days of sailing from Cochin, India, the laboratory ship arrived in Mahé in December 2022 for a long technical stopover in the archipelago. Criss-crossing the oceans in a bid to go out and meet the people who are coming up with sustainable solutions on a daily basis, Energy Observer has become a movement, around the world Odyssey, where every stopover is an opportunity to learn, understand and share positive energies. "We have been sailing around the world for seven years, stopping in iconic cities to meet pioneers who devote their energy to the development of sustainable solutions that respect the planet, through expeditions and innovations, Energy Observer is exploring practical solutions whilst developing new technologies to accelerate ecological transition," says Fanny Régnier, the press officer. "This stopover visit hosted the French Embassy in Seychelles, the Alliance Française, and representatives of the Seychelles government, as well as Odyssey's partners such as Qair. Energy Observer makes history in Seychelles By U-roy Jules
80 Sealife Magazine gen and the first French ambassador of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, lifted anchor to begin a new chapter of its Odyssey in Africa. which the symbolic milestone of 50,000 nautical miles (92,600 kilometres) was reached”. The first vessel powered by renewable energies and hydro- “Many school visits took place on board the ship under the aegis of the Energy Observer Foundation. After a tour of South-East Asia in 2022, during
81 Sealife Magazine The Seychelles Sports Fishing Club's third annual Trevally Slam fishing competition, which was held on Saturday, 13th of May 2023, and was proudly sponsored by EKU, was won by Team Rasta Shark. For the tournament only species of trevally were eligible for points and prizes, therefore, the teams were encouraged to release as many fish as possible and mutilated fish were strongly not accepted as per the International Game Fishing Association rules (IGFA). A team catching a slam was awarded a 500-point bonus for each slam, up to a maximum of 5 slams per boat or maximum of 2500 points. A slam is defined as three different species with Giant Trevally("Karang Ledan") minimum length 50cm, compulsory for every slam and 2 other species of either the following Blue Fin Trevally/ ("Karang ver") minimum length 30cm, Yellow Spot Trevally("Karang plat") no minimum length or Bludger Trevally/("Karang balo") no minimum length. The tournament began early morning with a total of nine boats departing from Eden Island Marina, Wharf Hotel & Marina, Marine Charter Association or Providence Industrial Estate and they were only allowed to fish on the Mahe Plateau + 10 nautical miles. Team Rasta Shark shines at SSFC/PKF Trevally Slam 2023 By Christine Ouma
82 Sealife Magazine 5:30pm, the results were announced. As per the club’s routine, all boats were to return at Marine Charter Association by 3pm. Team Rasta Shark garnered a total of 2660.10 points against the Runner – Up Team Soolyman with 1860.5 points. In third place was Team SexSea with 1835 points, a mere 25.5pointsb difference between second and third position. Giant Trevally was recorded by Team SexSea at 56.5 cm, Yellow Spot winner was Team Soolyman at 95 cm and Team Rasta Shark killed it with two wins in both the Bludger Trevally and other longest Trevally with 89 cm and 58 cm respectively. Another team that showed up The fishing method was strictly using a rod and reel only (no hand lines or electric reels were allowed to catch fish in this competition), and all recognized game fishing methods using a rod and reel were permitted – meaning that teams could use trolling, jigging, popping, casting and fly fishing. Hookless teasers could also be used. This tournament meant that no fish would be weighed and so to award points, all teams had to provide a video recorded for length measurement using SSFC's provided measurement tape. Teams handed their video evidence to the weighmaster as from 2pm same day, on a first come first serve basis and by was Team Paola. They clutched both the winning and runner up position in the Bluefin Trevally category with 46 cm and 39 cm respectively. Going down the ranks, Team Paola finished fourth (1,128.50points), Team Tsunami ranked fifth (569.00points), Team Heineken at sixth place (548.00points),Team Divinity at seventh place (547.00points) and lastly, Team Rig Runner with 541.00points. Several prizes were awarded to the teams and speaking to Sealife the visibly elated Team Rasta Shark Captain Dominic Mein expressed how delighted his team was, as in the previous year, they had emerged RunnerUp in the annual tournament. Runners up - Team Soolyman
83 Sealife Magazine boat. Dominic’s hope is for more people to join sports fishing as it involves fishing for fun, hobbies and even as competition, “Congratulations to Rasta Shark, they did very well,” Sealife spoke with Christine Jumeau an ardent sports fishing “We went out to have fun, did our best, lost a few good fish towards the end and so we didn’t really think we would win. But in the end, we’ve emerged winners,” he said. For this Tournament, team Rasta comprised three anglers on board a small lover from Team Soolyman. According to Christine who quotes, "any opportunity to go out at sea to participate in a tournament is always welcomed. Team Soolyman has on many occasions emerged amongst the top best in tournaments. Grant Heyer Wahez Dahoo - Eku Gary Elisabeth
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