VICTORIA, Seychelles, After a long wait, the Glacis fishers’ community will soon get a spacious and modern storage facility now that the foundation stone for its construction has been laid. The ceremony took place yesterday and marked an important milestone for the fishing community. The project is being seen as a long-overdue investment in the local fishing industry.
It was Designated Minister and Minister for Fisheries and Blue Economy, Jean-François Ferrari, and the elected member of the National Assembly for Glacis, Regina Esparon, who had the honour of laying the foundation stone for the Glacis Gear Store project. Their participation demonstrated the joint commitment of both the executive and legislative arms of government to support the fishing community. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the local fishing association.
Present were the French Ambassador to Seychelles and representative of the European Union, Olivia Berkeley-Christmann, chief executive of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Dr Jan Robinson, district administrator Christelle William, chairman of the Glacis Fishers Association Darny Barbé, other representatives of the district and the association, and staff of SFA. The broad representation underscored the importance of the project to the local community and the wider fishing industry. Several local fishers also attended the ceremony to show their support for the initiative.
The gear store is expected to provide much-needed storage space for fishing equipment, helping to improve the efficiency and productivity of the local fishing fleet. Modern storage facilities will also help to reduce losses due to weather damage and improve the overall quality of the catch. The project is being implemented with funding from the European Union.
Minister Ferrari noted that the project reflects the government’s commitment to supporting the blue economy and the small-scale fishers who form an important part of the sector. MNA Esparon expressed her satisfaction at seeing the project come to fruition after years of planning and community engagement. The facility is expected to be completed within the next year.
