Training programme on enhancing by-catch landing, valorisation, traceability and quality, including the development of safe handling guides and species identification guides.

As part of the French Development Agency (AFD) funded technical assistance for the implementation of the IORA Action Plan on Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Marine Environment, the AFD provides support to the achievement of the following objective of the Blue Economy Work plan: “To promote sustainable fisheries management”.

In the context of this objective, the activity “Provide a Training programme on enhancing by-catch landing, valorisation, traceability and quality, including the development of safe handling guides and species identification guides” is planned as a response towards the IORA Blue Economy Work Plan.

On 1 January 2018, the IOTC resolution 17/04 came into force. This resolution banned discards of bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin tunas and non-target species caught by purse seine vessels in the Indian Ocean. Several countries have since been seeking to capture this opportunity to protect vulnerable and endangered species whilst at the same time deriving more significant benefits from the resources fished within their waters. Large amounts of by-catch are also captured in bottom fish and prawn trawl fisheries. These are primarily used by communities or as fish feed for aquaculture, but some may be discarded. The valorisation of by-catch species originating from large- and small-scale regional tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean can be strengthened through simple interventions that will improve the value of the catch, such as proper handling and maintaining the cold-chain integrity.

In this context, The IORA Secretariat will provide to IORA Member States a training on enhancing by-catch landing valorisation, traceability and quality with the technical assistance of COFREPECHE. The training will take place from 29 March to 1 April 2022 in Seychelles.

The programme comprises three days of theoretical training and one day site visits to the port and processing plants which will provide knowledge on identification, monitoring, utilisation, traceability and valorisation of by-catch species in one of the main industrial tuna fisheries in the IORA region. It will also present some of the challenges facing this industry and an opportunity to interact on the regional situation.

Participation: By Invitation only

Title: Provide a training programme on enhancing by-catch landing, valorisation, traceability and quality, including the development of safe handling guides and species identification guides (activity 2.3)

Venue:  Eden Bleu Hotel, Eden Island, Seychelles

Date:  Tuesday, 29 March – 1 April 2022, 09:00 – 16:30

Registration: Restricted to the IORA Member States

The training will be moderated by Rondolph Payet, the main resident expert of the project, and delivered by COFREPECHE in cooperation with CAPFISH.