The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) National Secretariat, in collaboration with the Department of the Blue Economy, organised a prize-giving ceremony today to recognise and celebrate the winners of the “Hooked on Transparency” Competition, an initiative aimed at promoting awareness of transparency, accountability and responsible fisheries governance among young people in Seychelles.
The competition provided a creative platform for young people to explore and communicate the importance of transparency in the management of fisheries resources, while encouraging greater youth participation in discussions surrounding the sustainable development of Seychelles’ Blue Economy.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Mr Alain De Comarmond, and the Principal Secretary for the Blue Economy, Ms Veronique Nibourette.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary of State highlighted the importance of involving young people in promoting transparency and accountability in the fisheries sector. He emphasised that the sustainable management of Seychelles’ marine resources requires not only strong policies and institutional commitment but also an informed and engaged population, particularly the younger generation, who will play an important role in safeguarding the country’s ocean resources for the future.
Competition winners:
The competition recognised outstanding contributions across two age categories, with participants demonstrating creativity, awareness and an understanding of the importance of transparency in fisheries management.
Category: 15–17 years
First Prize: Gael Ezekiel Robert
Second Prize: Iona Malisha Naiken and Rya Orilla
Third Prize: Virginie Jupiter
Category: 18–30 years
First Prize: Curtis Pillay
Second Prize: Kira Richards and Hannah Kowlessur
Third Prize: Melissa Renaud
Recognising participants and supporting youth engagement
In addition to recognising the winners, the initiative provided an opportunity to celebrate the creativity and participation of all those who took part in the competition.
Participants received a range of exciting prizes generously sponsored by various organisations and businesses, including laptops, tablets and Foodie Baba vouchers. The support from sponsors contributed to making the competition rewarding and helped encourage greater youth participation.
The collaboration between the FiTI National Secretariat and the Department of the Blue Economy reflects the importance of strengthening public awareness and promoting a culture of transparency in the fisheries sector.
Seychelles has made important commitments towards improving transparency in fisheries governance through its engagement with the Fisheries Transparency Initiative. Initiatives such as Hooked on Transparency help translate these commitments into public awareness and meaningful engagement, particularly among young people.
Investing in a transparent and sustainable Blue Economy
The competition reinforces the message that transparency is not solely the responsibility of government institutions. It requires the participation of citizens, businesses, civil society and, importantly, young people.
By encouraging the next generation to understand how fisheries resources are managed, the initiative contributes to building a more informed society and strengthening public accountability in the sustainable management of Seychelles’ marine resources.
The Department of the Blue Economy and the FiTI National Secretariat extend their congratulations to all the winners and participants, and express their sincere appreciation to the sponsors and partners whose contributions helped make the competition a success.
An informed generation is essential to a transparent fisheries sector and a sustainable Blue Economy.
