2022
Seychelles’ fisheries and fisheries-supporting industries comprise a significant portion of the national economy and provide livelihoods to thousands of local households. Fisheries workers are engaged in activities such as artisanal line, trap, and net fishing; diving for sea cucumber; and industrial-scale purse seine and longline fishing. Supporting sectors and downstream activities include fisheries management, refrigeration, and machine operation and maintenance.
This study describes the current state of play in the fisheries sector and provides recommendations for its development. It also gathered data on COVID-19 pandemic-related benefits for fisheries workers to determine their level of dependency on government support.
The study conducted surveys using paper forms, web questionnaires, and mobile applications to collect information from 5,282 individuals employed in the fisheries and related sectors. 1,788 respondents represented the fisheries sector, most of which came from the artisanal sub-sector at 1,278; the remaining 3,494 respondents represented the non-fishing, supporting sub-sectors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport fishery sub-sector experienced low tourist numbers and a significant gap in operations, resulting in most respondents classifying themselves as either inactive, in the process of selling their boat, or reporting privacy concerns. The study analyzed the responses across sectors, gender, age, nationality, employment status, occupation, education level, and wage.
The survey revealed a significant reliance on foreign labour to augment the local workforce. This is especially true for highly technical and skilled occupations in purse seine, longline, semi-industrial, and sea cucumber fishing sub-sectors and non-fishing sub-sectors that involve machine operation, refrigeration, and mechanical and electrical maintenance. The study noted that while the Seychelles Maritime College trains new artisanal fishers yearly, the completion of the course remains low resulting in few recruits into the sector. The survey also found that technical workers such as seamen, skippers, divemasters, mechanics, electricians, machinists, and fibreglass plant workers are in high demand across all fishing and related sectors.
Although not entirely a skills issue, the shift work required in the fisheries sector is also a significant concern for many Seychellois, with employers viewing foreign labor as more reliable and willing to undertake this work arrangement. The research also notes that higher wages and dedicated training could improve Seychellois’ attitude towards working in the sector.
Another finding of the survey suggests that the three sub-sectors of artisanal fishing, processing, and transportation are facing an ageing workforce where the majority of workers belong to the 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 age bands. In particular, the artisanal fishery sub-sector has a higher number of workers between 45-64 years. Younger workers aged between 18 and 24 seem to enter the workforce at a lower rate that cannot compensate for retiring workers. Respondents also noted substance abuse and better financial and lower-risk opportunities in other industries as factors that drive away youth participation in the fisheries and related sectors.
When asked to provide recommendations to encourage younger workers to join the fisheries industry, the respondents named better working conditions, higher wages, and more benefits protections compared to other sectors as the most influential factors. Education and training in fishing and environment-related subjects would also encourage younger workers to pursue a career in these sectors thanks to ample demand for skilled workers and opportunities for professional advancement.
When evaluating the gender component, the survey found that male workers in the fishing sector, and the transport and storage sub-sectors dominated both in the highest (> 83,000 SCR/month) and the lowest (< 5,805 SCR/month) wage bands, likely a result of these sectors being predominantly male and not necessarily due to gender-based disparities. Conversely, in the few instances of female employment in fishing, and transport and storage sub-sectors, women tend to command higher wages compared to men. Meanwhile, in sub-sectors having more or less equal male and female participation, no gender pay gap was recorded.
The study also looked into the dependency of artisanal fishers on the government for their health insurance, sickness benefits, and pension contributions, and the impact of being registered with SFA on access to these benefits. 86 percent of respondents said they were registered with the SFA, 92 percent of which have a pension. In contrast, only 76 percent of the unregistered fishers contributed towards retirement. A larger gap is seen between the two cohorts in terms of participation in an insurance scheme with 91 percent of registered fishers having contributed compared to only 68 percent for unregistered fishers. Lastly, the survey found registered fishers were more likely to claim sickness benefits, with 97 percent of them having received such benefits compared to only 67% for unregistered fishers, suggesting that the SFA registered fishers are more aware of their right to sick benefits.
Given the fisheries sector’s current status and capacity needs, the study recommends a multi-faceted approach to bolster the local workforce in line with the existing 2019 Fisheries Policy. The government must first identify critical skill gaps and, with the help of industry stakeholders, craft a comprehensive human development plan that prioritizes training and education to equip Seychellois with the necessary skills to participate fully and thrive in the sector. Furthermore, the government must put policies in place to encourage participation in fisheries and fisheries-related work via apprenticeship programs, targeted skills development, and certifications. Finally, the study recommends that the government continue to monitor and improve employment accessibility, implement labor standards, and promote advanced fisheries training to build a skilled fisheries workforce continuously.