The Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, in collaboration with the European Union, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA), and the Seychelles Investment Board, hosted the Seychelles Tuna Conference 2025 on 2 May to commemorate World Tuna Day. The conference, held at the Eden Bleu Hotel, attracted high-level participation from government leaders, including the President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, alongside international scientists, major industry players, and local stakeholders.
The diversity of attendees highlighted the event’s cross-sectoral significance, bringing together those involved in fishing, regulation, processing, monitoring, and trading of tuna across the Indian Ocean and beyond. The primary goal was to engage in critical discussions regarding the sustainability, development, and management of tuna stocks. This included fostering regional cooperation, reinforcing science-based management, ensuring equitable value-sharing along the supply chain, and increasing local processing to move beyond raw exports.
Discussions were organized into four main panel sessions:
- Sustainability: Advancing Sustainability in the Tuna Industry
- Trade Dynamics: Exploring Socio-Economics and the Tuna Value Chain – Shaping the Future of the Tuna Industry
- Technology and IUU Fishing: Leveraging Technology to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Promote Sustainability
- Transparency: Enhancing Transparency in Tuna Fisheries – The Role of Fisheries Transparency Initiatives.
The first panel session, moderated by Dr. Jan Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of the SFA, focused on the need for accurate data, modern stock assessment tools, real-time quota tracking, and fair representation of small-scale and local operators.
Other members of the SFA staff also made huge contributions to the panel discussions. Key points of discussion included the importance of better market access through sustainability certifications, the role of electronic monitoring in enforcing quotas and reducing illegal activities, and Seychelles’ leadership as the first nation to fully comply with the Fisheries Transparency Initiative.
The Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-François Ferrari, opened the conference with a powerful call to action. “Tuna is more than a commodity. It is our source of livelihood, culture, and nutrition,” he stated, setting the tone for the multi-day program focused on protecting one of Seychelles’ most valuable natural and economic resources. “We are here to address the most pressing issues: ecosystem sustainability, illegal fishing, transparency, trade, and the need for inclusive growth.”
The event demonstrated both national and international support for Seychelles’ leadership in tuna governance.