As illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to cost the Indian Ocean region billions, Seychelles has found itself on the front lines of a maritime crisis with far-reaching economic and ecological implications. Between 2015 and 2021, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania collectively lost up to $142.8 million annually to IUU fishing, according to the World Wildlife Fund. With its strategic location and rich marine biodiversity, Seychelles faces similar threats.
These vessels, operating under questionable regulated foreign flags, often from African or Asian nations, exploit legal loopholes in international frameworks like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Port State Measures Agreement. Their activities often go undetected or unpunished, especially when operating under African registries that allow them to dock in friendly ports without inspection.
For Seychellois and other coastal communities in the region, the consequences are immediate and harsh. In Madagascar, fishermen like Gérard and Labako, featured in a recent World Bank report, have been forced to travel further and riskier distances in search of dwindling fish stocks. “Fish have become scarce,” Gérard said. “It is certainly more dangerous to venture elsewhere, but if we don’t, we will come back empty-handed.”
The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) is grappling with the growing threat. Roddy Allisop, SFA’s Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Manager, confirmed that at least two illegal fishing cases were reported recently, one involving license violations and the other concerning fishing without a license.
“Most of the cases we’ve handled in past years involved unlicensed fishing,” Allisop explained. “Depending on the species and the volume, such fishing can seriously impact the national economy and local communities. For example, if shark populations are depleted, what’s the economic value we’re losing?”
Allisop also noted that many of the intercepted vessels originate from Sri Lanka and that their illegal catches are sold on black markets worldwide.
“Intercepting and monitoring these boats has a cost,” he added. “It’s a cost every government department involved has to bear, and it’s not insignificant.”
Created in 1984, the SFA operates under the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy and is responsible for regulating Seychelles’ waters, licensing foreign and local fishing vessels, and conducting scientific research to ensure sustainability. Their current priorities include bolstering digital monitoring tools, deploying vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and enhancing inter-agency cooperation.
Recent initiatives such as the SWIOFish3 Project (2023–2028), backed by the World Bank, aim to strengthen co-management of resources and improve fisheries data systems. The SFA is also working with regional and international bodies like the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to align with best practices and improve compliance.
However, with foreign vessels increasingly using sophisticated means to avoid detection, including false registration and avoiding high-enforcement ports, gaps in the global enforcement architecture remain a critical vulnerability.
“We must protect our resources,” says Allisop. “That responsibility lies with all of us, authorities, communities, and international partners. Without action, we risk losing more than just our fish.”
