Fishing Port Development - Master plan remains a dream

Fishing Port Development - Master plan remains a dream

Peter Sinon, the minister responsible for Industry and Fishing, confirmed to the National Assembly this week that most of the projects earmarked as part of a master plan for the development of the industrial fishing port had not been realised. He blamed the world economic crisis of 2008 for the failures but could not give clear indications on what measures were now being taken to transform Port Victoria into a modern fishing port.

Most of the questions to Minister Sinon were put by Nicholas Préa, the SNP spokesperson for fisheries development and the recently named Vice- Presidential candidate for the May elections. The MNA also insisted on the necessity to develop downstream industries that would give added value to our local fishery resources.

It was obvious from the minister’s answers that there were no concrete plans for the future. Sinon was all over the place in his answers to the point that the Deputy Speaker had to call him to order and asked that he be more precise in his answers. Every excuse in the book was brought out, including the recent tsunami in Japan that would affect the financing of future projects and piracy in the Indian Ocean that was keeping Japanese fishing companies away from Seychelles.

Just before the 2006 presidential elections, the government brought potential investors together at a glittering signing ceremony on Ste Anne Island to unveil the fisheries master plan. It promised that construction of new facilities would begin immediately and most would be ready within a year. These included:

• Extension of the existing Port by 300 Metres south with a draft of 12 metres • Additional 50,000 sq. metre of land for container transactions • Rehabilitation of the existing quay – 370 metres • New warehouses approximately 8000 sq. metres each • New office buildings • Relocation of the Seychelles Coast Guard • Relocation of the activities of the Inter-island Quay • Dry/Floating Dock Facility

None of these facilities have to date been constructed, except for the new Coastguards base that is presently being built by the government of Abu Dhabi. Investors have been put off time and again and some, like the fish transformation company based in Réunion, SAPMER, has abandoned its plans for a factory in Seychelles and has instead set up business in Mauritius.

Source: Regar 3-18-11


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The SIROP 1987/88 Program Fisheries National policy - 15 year Plan