On 4th June, Principal Secretary for Fisheries, Mr. Roy Clarisse, participated in the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Fisheries Transiency Initiative (FiTI) in Berlin, Germany. The event, held under the theme “A Decade of Transparency with the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)”, coincided with the 30th International Board meeting of the FiTI held on the 5th and 6th June.
During the celebratory event, Mr. Clarisse participated in a multi-stakeholder panel discussion on the sub-theme “Transparency in Fisheries: A Ten-Year Shift from Ideal to Imperative.” In the discussion, he shared Seychelles’ journey in embracing transparency within the fisheries sector over the past decade.
Mr. Clarisse emphasized that Seychelles’ aspiration for transparency in fisheries management was not an option but an obligation, as explicitly stated in the Seychelles Fisheries Policy as one of the primary objectives. He further underscored that while the tangible benefits of transparency may be limited, its reputational advantages are substantial.
Since 2019, Seychelles has established itself as a global leader in promoting transparency in fisheries governance through the FiTI. As the first country to publish a FiTI Report, Seychelles has consistently demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the FiTI Standards and open government principles. This leadership was further recognized on February 27, 2025, when Seychelles was officially recognised as the first FiTI Compliant country worldwide.
The implementation of actions that facilitated Seychelles’ transition to FiTI compliance was a pivotal component of its inaugural Open Government Partnership (OGP) action plan.
