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The Seychelles National Report summarizes activities of the Seychelles’ fishing fleet targeting tuna and tuna-like species in the WIO for the year 2018 in comparison with previous years. It also summarizes research, and data collection related activities as well as actions undertaken in 2018 to implement Scientific Committee recommendations and IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.
The Seychelles purse seine fleet increased from 8 vessels in 2012 to 13 vessels in 2018. The number of supply vessels also increased from 4 to 8 vessels in 2017 and was then reduced to 7 vessels in 2018. In 2018 the nominal effort decreased by 485 days (15%) when compared to the previous year to reach a total of 2,786 days fished whilst the catches increased by % from 122,202 MT in 2017 to 123,310 MT in 2018 resulting in a mean catch rate of 44.25 MT/Fishing day. Skipjack was the dominant caught species, accounting for 66% of the total catch whilst yellowfin tuna made up 28% of the total catch of the Seychelles flagged purse seiners in WIO. Catches of yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna decreased by 16% and 34% respectively whilst catches of skipjack increased by 16% when compared to the previous year.
The Seychelles Industrial longline fleet comprised of 54 vessels in 2018 like 2017. The total catch reported by the industrial longline fleet for 2018 was estimated at 11,066 MT representing a decrease of 25% in catches, when compared to 2017 corresponding to the 28% decrease in fishing effort.
In term of species composition, yellowfin tuna and the NEI category comprising of mostly ‘oilfish’ were the dominant species caught by this fleet in 2018 accounting for 29% and 24% respectively, followed by bigeye tuna and swordfish, representing 20% and 13% respectively. The estimated catch rate has remained more or less similar to the previous year estimated at 0.43 Mt/1000 hooks for the year 2018.
In 2018, the Semi industrial fishery recorded the highest catch since the beginning of the fishery with a reported total catch of 1,266 Mt representing an 9% increase compared to the previous year catches. The fishing effort also increased by 5% from 2.05 million hooks set in 2017 to 2.15 million hooks in 2018. The catch rate decreased from 0.57 MT/1000 hooks in the previous year to 0.59 MT/1000 hooks.
Similar to previous years, the SFA is implementing various actions to improve the quantity and quality of data collected from its fleet targeting tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. Actions include improved logbook for data capture, review and upgrade of data collection and management system and implementation of National Scientific Observer Programme, including piloting Electronic Monitoring system and Electronic Reporting.
