The Secretary General of Fisheries, Isabel Artime, met with the Principal Secretary of Fisheries of Seychelles, Roy Clarisse, during his official visit to Spain.
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
The Secretary General of Fisheries, Isabel Artime, and the Principal Secretary of Fisheries of Seychelles, Roy Clarisse, have agreed to continue collaborating and explore new avenues of cooperation in the fisheries sector.
According to Artime, the fishing agreement between the European Union and Seychelles is the most significant in the Indian Ocean due to its strength, with over 40 years of validity.
Furthermore, the Secretary has emphasized Seychelles' strategic role for the Spanish fleet of freezer tuna purse seiners operating in the Indian Ocean.
In 2024, 13 vessels based in the Basque Country caught more than 118,000 tons of tuna in Seychelles' waters, destined for the canning industry (yellowfin, skipjack, and bigeye).
During Clarisse's last visit to Spain, both leaders discussed how to designate the port of Victoria as an authorized port to apply the tolerance margin exception for tuna offloading.
Additionally, both highlighted the importance of having a united front against countries that do not support the implementation of management measures adopted within the framework of the Regional Fisheries Organization (RFO).
Finally, they discussed new initiatives related to the sustainability of the Spanish tuna fleet, fisheries training, and efforts to attract new generations to train and work aboard fishing vessels.
Just a few months ago, Spain and Cape Verde also agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to develop and promote cooperation, research, and training in the fisheries sector of both countries.
