A brief history of the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA)
-
The Early Beginning
By 1983 it was becoming clear that industrial tuna fishing was becoming a reality in Seychelles and that this development would transform the fisheries sector in the country. In September 1983, the Seychelles Industrial Fisheries Authority (SIFA) was created. This Authority was established in view to develop the fishing industry to its fullest potential. It was to take charge of all industrial fishing development and would represent the Government in all negotiations related to industrial fishing.
The Ministry of National Development was responsible for Government policies on fishing, but SIFA would be an independent organisation with autonomous legal and financial status. SIFA soon gave way to the formation of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) with the passing of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (Establishment) Act,1984.
SFA on its formation, took over the staff of the Fisheries Division and those of the Fisheries Development Company (FIDECO). At the very beginning SFA was entrusted with a research and development role from the Fisheries Division and a commercial role from FIDECO. In the early years, SFA had a very strong commercial slant to its activities. It either took over or created the following companies:❖ Seychelles Fishing Company Ltd. (looking after SEYKOR)
❖ Indian Ocean Marine Ltd. (Ship chandler)
❖ Seychelles Electronics Marine Company Ltd (SEYCMI) (Joint Venture)
❖ Seychelles Radio Maritime Company Ltd (SERAMACO) (Joint Venture)
❖ Société Thonière Seychelloise Ltd. (Joint-Venture)
-
Jump To Present
SFA became an autonomous parastatal organisation in January 2019 and whose Board of Directors is appointed by the President of the Republic of Seychelles. Its iconic logo with three fishes makes it is easily recognisable by many people.
The SFA is unique because it is an organisation with management, planning, and development, scientific and training functions. It has a strong regulatory function which has meant that is has always been at the center of the fisheries sector development over the years. Driven by our long-standing moto “Responsible Fishing for Sustainability,” the SFA has been through a lot of ups and downs over the years but always rebounded positively.
Nevertheless, it still holds a reputation in the region as one of the best institutions for Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS), particularly in fisheries research and management. Its Documentation Centre contains several archived reports and scientific journals.
SFA has also seen many changes in the fisheries sector, be it technological all the way through to policies which has made it one of the most resilient parastatal bodies still in operation today. This resilience is primarily due to the fact that it has one of the best employees around. Hard-working, determined, and loyal to the institution meant that in the face of many adversities and challenges the institution managed to keep most of its team and ensure continuous service delivery.
SFA comprises of approximately 240 staff, including its management team which consists of a pool of dedicated members with a variety of discipline from scientific, technical, managerial, and hands-on experience.
SFA works in close collaboration with its parent Ministry, the Ministry of Fisheries, and the Blue Economy, to implement the Fisheries Sector Policy and Strategy which is key to the fisheries sector’s success. Other partners include❖ Ministry of Agriculture and Climate Change and Environment,
❖ Seychelles Coast Guard,
❖ Seychelles Ports Authority,
❖ Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority,
❖ other key Government institutions,
❖various fishermen and boat owners’ associations, and
❖NGO's as well as overseas partners.
Several stakeholder consultations are held on a regular basis regarding several development projects in the fisheries sector.
On the international scene, SFA has been very prominent in the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and other regional and international fora to ensure that fisheries development in Seychelles remains relevant with the rest of the region and the world. Through continuous discussions and negotiations with fishing nations, the SFA has ensured the sustainable exploitation of fish and the best interest of the people of Seychelles are maintained.