By next month, programmes to help promote the agriculture and fisheries sector are expected to be launched for the capacity building training of current and future fishermen.
This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA).
This MoU is being supported by Ifad (International Fund for Agricultural Development) under the Clissa (Competitive Local Innovations for Small-scale Agriculture) project.
There are three components to this agreement, and the first two are the programmes which include a safety at sea course and the other about inboard and outboard engines.
The third mechanism is to complete the fisheries science laboratory by the end of December.
Youths with an interest in the Blue economy will get the chance to make use of this new lab which will be managed by an expert being brought in who will also be teaching fisheries science.
The agreement was signed by the Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Wallace Cosgrow, the SMA assistant director Captain Wilton Ernesta and the project manager for Clissa George Bibi.
Minister Cosgrow said since SMA is the only institution providing education and programmes in the maritime field and grooming fishermen, it’s only right that his ministry enters into a partnership to provide training with a local institution.
Speaking about the various components he said: “The training on engines will be beneficial in cases of emergency, and it will probably reduce the costs fishermen have to bear when repairs are needed as they will be able to do it themselves and hopefully pass on the benefits of the reduced costs to consumers in the price they sell their fish on the market as this is the ultimate aim.”
He noted the importance of the laboratory for the development of the fisheries sector, as the students need to be trained with a certain level of knowledge of fisheries science as they enter the world of work.
In relation to the safety at sea programme, he said too often the government bears excessive costs during rescue operations and even lives lost which could have been avoided if proper training was provided.
“We leave all this in the capable hands of SMA to train our people so that eventually in the future we can have a more professional workforce in the fisheries sector while attracting the youth altogether to join this sector,” he said.
Mr Bibi said under this agreement SMA will be able to conduct activities to help fishermen especially to promote security while they go fishing and to teach them the basics on how to maintain their machines or engines.
He said Clissa is targeting about 40% boat owners or fishermen to take part in the various activities.
For his part, Captain Ernesta expressed his gratitude for this accord and they are confident that after their experts have delivered in return there will be good results.
The agreement is expected to terminate within six months but since it is a performance agreement it may be extended for a longer period after an evaluation is done.
Present during the signing was the principal secretary for fisheries and agriculture Michel Nalletamby and representatives of the Clissa project.
Source : Seychelles NATION