There is more bad news for our fishing industry. Whereas it was thought until recently that only Yellowfin tuna was being overfished, experts are now warning that Skipjack stocks in the Indian Ocean may go from green to red in a few months.

by R. Meetarbhan

"Excessive pressure by fishing with fish aggregating devices (FADs) and a quite poor stock status might cause skipjack stocks in the Indian Ocean, which are currently considered as high, to be assessed as low in the next biomass diagnosis in October 2017." This scary statement was made by a scientist, Alain Fonteneau, speaking at the European Tuna Conference in Brussels on April 24.

Fonteneau added that the increase of skipjack catches could 

probably be due to an increased use of FADs. These devices float on the surface of the sea and attract huge numbers of tuna, which makes it easier to scoop them up in industrial-sized purse-seine nets and haul onto the fishing vessel.

In 2016, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission agreed to implement a harvest control rule for skipjack in 2018, aimed at maintaining the spawning stock at or above 40% of its unfished biomass. This is a welcome measure but it may come too late.

TODAY asked Keith André, chairman of the Fishermen and Boat Owners Association (FBOA), to respond to this new threat. He had this to say: "Three years ago, Yellowfin tuna was deemed to be an overfished species. Today, scientists are saying the stock of Skipjack may collapse. Soon, it will be the turn of Bigeye tuna to be threatened. Unless, appropriate measures are taken to counteract FADs whose use have exploded these last years, I cannot see any solution to the problem."

In pratice, says Keith André, supply vessels must be banned. "A purse seiner cannot manage the huge amount of FADs placed to attract fish. It relies on supply vessels to do that. So we should start by banning the supply vessels to limit the FADs," he explained.

Mr. André points out that the number of supply vessels operating

in our waters are not compliant with international regulations. "One supply vessel is allowed for every two purse seiners. We have 7 supply vessels at present in Seychelles' waters for 13 purse seiners. The quota is already exceeded," said Mr. André.

The chairman of the FBOA believes that authorities here in Seychelles are treating the problem lightly. "The 21st meeting session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) will be held in Indonesia on May 22. Members had to submit their recommendations by 20 April. Seychelles did not meet that deadline," he alleged.

Keith André also refuted the argument made by a Spanish organisation representing owners of purse seiners in a letter sent to TODAY. They said that "Supply vessels bring €7 million/year to Seychelles". Mr. André says this statement is misleading. The Spanish should also say they earn profits to the tune of €150 million/year."

"They are fighting to make more money. I am fighting so that my

children will be able to fish one day," concluded Mr. André.