Department of Fisheries - Seychelles

19/10/2026

Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Tuna Fisheries:
🇸🇨 Seychelles Chairs the 14th Meeting of the SWIOFC Working Party on Collaboration and Cooperation in Tuna Fisheries

Fisheries officials and regional partners gathered in Maputo, Mozambique, from 7 to 9 October 2026 to advance cooperation on sustainable tuna fisheries in the South West Indian Ocean.
Seychelles was represented by Ms. Sheriffa Morel, Director General for Fisheries, who chaired the meeting, and Ms. Stephanie Radegonde, Principal Policy Analyst, both from the Department of Fisheries.

Discussions focused on sustainable fisheries management, port State measures and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, alongside stronger monitoring, compliance and information sharing.

Members also considered future priorities and endorsed a proposal for a joint SWIOFC–IOTC workshop on neritic tuna in 2027, supporting further technical exchange across the region.
Through continued collaboration, coastal States are working to sustain the tuna resources that support livelihoods, food security and economic development. 🐟

08/10/2026

02/10/2026

The Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy invites suitably qualified Seychellois candidates to apply for the position of Legal Expert on the Board of Directors of the SADC Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC).

Candidates should possess relevant legal qualifications, knowledge and experience, particularly in environmental, fisheries, maritime law, natural resource governance, public international law and related sector.

Deadline: 12:00 midday, 9 October 2026
Applications should be submitted to:
Mr. Roy Clarisse
Principal Secretary for Fisheries
Email address: [email protected], and copy [email protected]; [email protected] and [email protected].

Interested candidates are encouraged to consult the link below for the advertisement and Terms of Reference for the full eligibility criteria, application requirements and submission details.
https://sadcmcscc.org/news/advertisement-for-the-position-of-legal-expert-as-a-member-of-the-board-of-directors-of-the-southern-african-development-community-sadc-fisheries-monitoring-control-and-surveillance-coordination-cen/

29/09/2026

Minister Cosgrow Visits Indian Ocean Tuna Limited 🐟

The Minister responsible for Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, visited Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT) today, accompanied by Secretary of State Mr. Alain de Comarmond, Principal Secretary for Fisheries Mr. Roy Clarisse, and Director General for Fisheries Ms. Sheriffa Morel.

The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to tour IOT’s facilities, gain first-hand insight into its tuna processing operations and engage with management on key matters relating to Seychelles’ tuna fisheries sector.

With approximately 1,800 employees and a processing capacity of around 350 metric tonnes of tuna per day, IOT remains an important part of Seychelles’ tuna industry.

The delegation also learned more about IOT’s value-addition and sustainability initiatives, including the utilisation of fish by-products and efforts towards reducing waste.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of Government–industry collaboration in strengthening the tuna value chain, supporting employment and maximising the benefits Seychelles derives from its fisheries resources.

25/09/2026

Principal Minister, and Minister for Fisheries,Agriculture and Blue Economy, accompanied by SS,Secretary of State for the Ministry of Fisheries ,Agriculture and Blue Economy,joined student's, and staff's from SMA, Department of Fisheries, for a campus cleaning up and planting activity at the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) today to commemorate World Marime day.

25/09/2026

EU and Seychelles holds Joint Committee Meetings of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement

Delegations from the Seychelles and the European Union met in Victoria on 21 and 22 September 2026 to conclude two key bilateral fisheries meetings under the framework of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements which covers EU vessels fishing in Seychelles waters, and on Seychelles vessels fishing in Mayotte water under the jurisdiction of the EU

The first Joint Committee Meeting under the new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) Protocol 2026-2030 which was signed by the Parties in July 2026 was co-chaired by Mr. Roy Clarisse (Principal Secretary for Fisheries, Seychelles) and Mr. Luis Molledo (Head of Unit, DG MARE, European Commission), the Parties formally launched operations under the new 4-year SFPA Protocol.

Following the provisional application of the Protocol, Seychelles confirmed a total of 22 fishing authorisations have been issued to EU vessels (18 purse seiners and 4 support vessels) so far. The uptake of fishing authorisations under the new Protocol is expected to be similar as in previous years, at 26 EU purse seine vessels.
During the meeting, the Parties approved the multiannual sectoral support framework for 2026–2030, and its first instalment workplan for the year 2026/2027. Key priorities of the sectoral support focus on artisanal fisheries community benefits and empowerment, including for fishers associations and community infrastructure, the second phase of development for aquaculture development in Seychelles, maritime scientific research, monitoring control and surveillance, capacity building .and support to the Seychelles Maritime Academy and the Fish Inspection Quality Control Unit of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards. The total sectoral support under the new Protocol is Euro 12 million over the four years period and an annual sum of Euro three million has been approved for the for the first workplan for 2026-2027.

The Parties also reviewed the reciprocal access agreement allowing Seychelles-flagged vessels to fish in the waters of Mayotte.

The meetings took place at the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Seychelles.

17/09/2026

High Commissioner of Namibia Pays Courtesy Call on Minister Wallace Cosgrow

17 September 2026
The High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia, Her Excellency Honourable Nangula Frieda Ithete, paid a courtesy call on the Principal Minister and Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Honourable Wallace Cosgrow.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Seychelles and Namibia, alongside exploring strategic initiatives within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) framework. Key topics addressed included joint opportunities in livestock development and importation of meat and meat products, aquaculture, potential for commercial partnership, and the exchange of expertise to advance sustainable food security in both countries. Both Parties agreed to initiate technical exchanges between experts to commence the cooperation.

Highlighting the commitment to further deepen ties, High Commissioner Ithete extended an invitation to Minister Cosgrow for a working visit to Namibia to strengthen regional partnerships and solidify ongoing cooperation efforts.

02/09/2026

On 1 September 2026, H.E. Mr. Domingos de Almeida Da Silva Coelho, Ambassador of Angola to Seychelles, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, Principal Minister and Minister of Blue Economy, Agriculture and Fisheries. At the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Maison Collet.

The discussions focused on establishing action-oriented partnerships that leverage Angola’s vast coastal resources and Seychelles’ leadership in ocean governance. Both dignitaries emphasized advancing foreign direct investment, capacity building, and technical knowledge exchange across key sectors, including sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and agriculture.

26/08/2026

Strengthening Fisheries Transparency Through First-Hand Industry Engagement

Victoria, Seychelles – [21.08.2026] — As part of ongoing efforts to promote greater transparency and understanding within Seychelles’ fisheries sector, Members of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) National Multi-Stakeholder Group (NMSG) undertook a site visit to SEAWARD, one of Seychelles’ key private-sector service providers supporting the industrial fisheries sector.

The visit provided an opportunity for Members to gain first-hand insight into the day-to-day operations of a major private-sector actor supporting Seychelles’ fisheries industry, while fostering greater understanding of the processes, systems and people that contribute to the functioning of the sector.

For transparency to be meaningful, it must extend beyond policies, reports and publicly available information. It also requires an understanding of how the fisheries sector operates in practice, the people involved, the processes that support the industry, and the challenges faced by those working within it.

During the visit, Members were introduced to SEAWARD’s operations and gained a closer understanding of the processes involved in its activities within the fisheries sector. The engagement allowed Members to connect broader discussions on fisheries transparency with the practical realities of industry operations. The visit also highlighted the important role played by the private sector in supporting a transparent and sustainable fisheries sector in Seychelles. As industry operators are directly involved in the harvesting, processing, handling and commercial aspects of fisheries activities, their experiences and perspectives are an important part of understanding the sector as a whole.

The engagement forms part of the broader work of the FiTI NMSG to strengthen transparency and stakeholder participation in Seychelles’ fisheries sector. Bringing government, civil society and private-sector perspectives together allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the sector and supports more informed discussions around fisheries governance. The visit was also an opportunity for open exchange, with Members able to learn directly from SEAWARD’s team about their experiences, operational realities and perspectives on the fisheries industry.

Speaking on the importance of such engagements, the Chair of FiTI, Mr. Alain de Comarmond Secretary of State for Fisheries and Blue Economy, noted that “transparency is strengthened when stakeholders have the opportunity to understand not only the information available about the fisheries sector, but also the realities behind that information. Engaging directly with industry allows us to better appreciate the contribution, responsibilities and challenges of private-sector operators and to ensure that transparency remains grounded in the realities of the sector.”

The FiTI NMSG expressed its appreciation to SEAWARD and its team for their openness and willingness to facilitate the visit and share their knowledge and experience with Members.

19/08/2026

Courtesy Visit of H.E Mr. Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Seychelles’ Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy Mr. Wallace Cosgrow On Tuesday 18th August,2026 at the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy at Maison Collet.

Principal Minister Wallace Cosgrow, who is also Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, during a courtesy call with H.E. Mr Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Seychelles. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views and reaffirm the longstanding relations between Seychelles and the Russian Federation.