Victoria, Seychelles | Friday 30th May 2025 – by: Tresa Bastienne
The Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has launched a two-day workshop aimed at redefining the country’s approach to managing drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs), a critical element of the industrial tuna fishery. Held at Eden Bleu Hotel, the workshop marks a key step toward drafting a revised dFAD management plan to be submitted to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) by March 2026.
Opening the event, Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy Jean-François Ferrari emphasized the need to balance the sector’s economic importance, accounting for nearly 90% of exports and up to 27% of GDP, with long-term environmental responsibility. Unlike previous top-down approaches, the new plan will be developed through national dialogue and co-management, incorporating input from fishers, scientists, NGOs, and government stakeholders to reflect both IOTC obligations and national priorities, including climate resilience and marine spatial planning.
The workshop aims to assess the current dFAD plan, collect stakeholder feedback, draft a compliance matrix, explore sustainable materials, and agree on a finalisation timeline. It also responds to growing ecological concerns, particularly around sensitive marine ecosystems and outer islands.
Public opinion remains divided, with some highlighting dFADs’ efficiency, while others raise alarms about bycatch, ghost gear, and coral damage. SFA’s Head of Fisheries Management, Vincent Lucas, stressed the need for a participatory and adaptive plan that aligns with local realities and international expectations.
Minister Ferrari reiterated that the workshop seeks consensus, not conformity, underscoring the shared goal of sustainable fisheries and a resilient blue economy. The initiative is supported by a German-funded regional project under the International Climate Initiative and implemented with TNC to enhance biodiversity and ocean health in the Western Indian Ocean.