Seychelles Roundup: Anti-corruption collaboration, illegal fishing, island owner
King Charles' birthday
The 75th birthday of King Charles III was celebrated in Seychelles on Saturday, June 22 with a James Bond theme event hosted by the British High Commission. The British High Commissioner highlighted the evolving bond between the UK and Seychelles and plans to launch a letter-writing competition for children to write to the King about environmental issues, reports Seychelles News Agency. Seychelles, a former British colony, obtained independence in 1976 and is a member of the Commonwealth.
Fisheries festival
The recent surge in interest in enhanced fish products led the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) to organise a festive event on Praslin, the archipelago's second-largest island. The celebration took place at the Baie Ste Anne fish market on Friday, marking a prelude to the SFA's 40th anniversary and the forthcoming National Day on June 29, which commemorates the Seychelles' Independence Day. The event drew a substantial turnout, yet many attendees expressed their dissatisfaction when the fish products sold out within an hour. Collaborating with the Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT), the SFA offered an assortment of canned tuna at the festival, as reported by the Seychelles News Agency. Despite also providing fish-based delicacies like burgers, nuggets, and balls, the SFA found their supplies insufficient to meet the high demand of the locals.
Anti-corruption collaboration
On Friday, June 21, the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS) and the European Public Prosecution Office (EPPO) formalised a collaborative agreement aimed at bolstering anti-corruption initiatives and tackling corruption in the public sector. The ACCS outlined that the agreement's objective is to streamline collaborative efforts in the investigation and prosecution of criminal activities. Additionally, the agreement is designed to improve the sharing of evidence, as well as operational and strategic intelligence. It will also promote other cooperative endeavours, including local capacity building and knowledge sharing. The official signing was carried out by ACCS Commissioner May De Silva and EPPO Deputy Chief Prosecutor Andrés Ritter. As reported by the Seychelles News Agency, May De Silva emphasised that this agreement is a milestone in fostering international cooperation, reinforcing legal and institutional structures, and advocating for good governance, thereby establishing a model for efficient and united anti-corruption actions.
Illegal fishing
The latest findings from an independent lobster fishery survey suggest that unlawful fishing activities may be contributing to a reduced lobster population around the inner islands of the Seychelles. Kettyna Gabriel, a senior fisheries scientist with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), shared insights with the Seychelles News Agency during a workshop aimed at validating the survey's findings. According to the survey, lobster numbers were higher around more remote islands like Bird Island and Denis Island, in contrast to the lower counts observed in the vicinity of the Mahe plateau. "We suspect that this may be because of fishing pressure. We are all aware that a high amount of IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) illegal fishing is happening even if there is a closed season. And the Mahe area would be a prime target given its proximity and the fact that you would need bigger boats and equipment to fish near the outer islands," she said.
Island owner
In the 1960s, a man from Yorkshire, grappling with the prospect of unemployment, embarked on a journey to the Seychelles that would transform his destiny. Brendon Grimshaw, hailing from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, stumbled upon Moyenne Island during a vacation in the Seychelles in 1962. The small island, measuring a mere half-mile across, captivated him, and he impulsively purchased it for a modest sum of £8,000 (over $10,000). Grimshaw, who had been an editor for a newspaper in East Africa, chose to abandon his former profession and life to devote himself to the island's revival, as reported by Leeds Live. Enchanted by its serenity and pristine beauty, he was determined to rejuvenate the long-neglected landscapes and wildlife of Moyenne, the Mirror adds. The vegetation was so lush that coconuts dropping from lofty trees were ensnared by the dense underbrush below, never touching the ground. It has even been likened to "a miniature rainforest bursting forth from the sea," as Yorkshire Live once described.
