In a continued effort to strengthen science-based fisheries management, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) successfully hosted a two-day capacity-building workshop on harvest strategies at J & S House, Victoria. The in-person event, held on Tuesday, 21^st  October 2025, was organized in collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Ocean Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).

The workshop also marked the launch of the FAO’s new online e-learning module on harvest strategies, providing participants with a self-paced platform to further their learning, consisting of five modules and approximately 6.5 hours of content. Prior to the workshop, participants had to complete the modules. This preparatory training enabled participants to gain the most from the in-person sessions.

The workshop brought together 18 participants from key SFA departments, including Fisheries Management & Technical Coordination, Research, and Monitoring, Control & Surveillance, to deepen their understanding and application of harvest strategies in Seychelles’ fisheries.

The event was officially opened by Dr. Jan Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of the SFA, with remarks emphasizing the importance of aligning national fisheries management with international best practices. Dr. Paul De Bruyn, Executive Secretary of the IOTC, also attended and echoed the call for sustainable, science-driven approaches.

The workshop was led by Dr. Rebecca Scott from The Ocean Foundation, with additional facilitation from:

– Dr. Hilario Murua (ISSF)

– Dan Fu (IOTC–FAO)

– Ms. Shana Miller (The Ocean Foundation, via online support)

Prior to the workshop, participants completed a pre-training survey titled “Management Procedures and MSE: Pre-workshop Survey” to assess baseline knowledge and tailor the sessions accordingly.

Workshop Highlights:

– Foundations of Harvest Strategies and Management Procedures: Key concepts such as reference points, harvest control rules, and the Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) process.

– Global Best Practices and Case Studies: Real-world examples of successful harvest strategy implementation.

– Interactive Exercises and Group Discussions: Application of MSE principles to hypothetical fisheries scenarios.

– National Application and Co-management Context: Integration of harvest strategies into Seychelles’ fisheries, and other co-managed sectors.

Participants shared that the training not only enhanced their technical knowledge but also fostered stronger collaboration between management, science, and policy divisions within the Authority. The event concluded with a shared commitment to continue building capacity and applying harvest strategy principles in national fisheries management planning.