Improving the socio-economic knowledge of the Seychelles Artisanal Fishery

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a vital socio-economic role in Seychelles, being the second most important sector after tourism. The government is focused on sustainably managing these fisheries under a new ‘blue growth’ agenda. However, there have been concerns about the overexploitation of fish stocks. 

Karine Rassol, a PhD student at the time, was awarded a small grant to finance her studies and gather perspectives of SSF stakeholders in Seychelles. Her study used a two-phased approach to gather insights from SSF stakeholders. First, semi-structured interviews with diverse groups, including policymakers and fishers, were conducted to characterise the SSF, assess the status of coastal fish stocks, and identify challenges and potential solutions. This phase revealed areas of consensus and divergence among stakeholders.Next, survey interviews with small-scale fishers confirmed the decline of coastal fish stocks and highlighted broader economic, political, and social challenges within the SSF system. Fishers demonstrated a good understanding of sustainability issues and supported management measures. The knowledge-sharing processes facilitated in the study aim to build trust among stakeholders and improve relationships with managers, which are crucial for enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of SSF globally.

Project Resources: https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/30356/