The first MSP Socio-Economic Analysis is underway with economists and fisheries experts to better understand the value of the tuna fishery and how/if the MSP affects this economy in Seychelles. The tuna socio-economic assessment is being conducted at this time because the MSP zones are in deep water. The objectives are:
- Estimate the value of the industrial tuna fishery for the Seychelles’ economy
- Estimate the possible economic impact of the MSP Zone 1 – High biodiversity protection areas on the industrial fisheries in 2021 when the zones are implemented
- Explore other socio-economic analyses to understand the sensitivity of the Seychelles’ economy to changes in the industrial tuna fishery and external economic factors.
The consultancy final report is anticipated by December 2018.
A Second Socio-Economic Analysis will be undertaken once the MSP zoning moves in to the shallow waters (<200 m depth) and Zone 1 areas are proposed. The second analysis will include domestic semi-industrial and artisanal fisheries as well as sport fishing (including marine charters) and tourism. New spatial data will be needed to do this analysis, currently not available, as well as data for ecosystem services so as to elaborate on the potential benefits of the MSP zoning and marine protections.
May 2016. Frozen yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) condenses the hot, humid Seychelles air as it is unloaded from the Dolomieu (La Reunion). Victoria, Mahé Island, Seychelles. Industrial commercial fishing is one of the primary industries driving the Seychelles’s economy. Photo credit: Jason Houston