Victoria, Seychelles | Friday 06^th June 2025 – by: Tresa Bastienne

To mark the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) and the Seychelles Coast Guard held a joint awareness session with first-year students at the Seychelles Maritime Academy. The event took place at the SMA auditorium and focused on educating students about the ongoing threats posed by IUU fishing and the national efforts to combat it.

The Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) Department of the SFA led informative presentations outlining the strategies and tools used to monitor and deter illegal fishing activities in Seychelles’ waters. The SCG reinforced these messages by sharing real-life case studies and operations, while also encouraging students to consider a career with the Coast Guard in support of marine resource protection.

Students responded with strong interest, acknowledging that they were previously unaware of the scale of IUU fishing in the country. Many expressed a desire to contribute by promoting sustainable fishing practices, such as educating local fishers about fish maturity sizes and the impact of harvesting juvenile fish. The session not only raised awareness but also inspired students to be part of the solution.