The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) has released the results of a study carried out between May and July 2025 on lobster harvesting in Seychelles. The study looked at how lobsters are sold after being caught and explored the idea of introducing a tagging system to track them.
Senior Fisheries Scientist Kettyna Gabriel said the study was launched after licensed fishermen raised concerns about illegal lobster fishing affecting their income.
“To understand the lobster value chain and address these concerns, we proposed a tagging project to track lobsters from the time they are caught until they reach consumers,”
Mrs. Gabriel added that stakeholder input was important before starting such a program. The survey was conducted on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, and Denis Island, gathering information from 87 people, including fishermen, processors, hotel operators, importers, and members of the public.
Dr. Ameer Ibrahim, a fisheries expert who helped with the research, described the findings as alarming. He revealed that 10% of lobster fishing in Seychelles is illegal, mostly due to a lack of awareness about fishing regulations. He also noted that climate change could be contributing to the decline in lobster numbers.
Lobster fishing in Seychelles is seasonal, and only licensed fishermen are allowed to harvest during the open season. The country has four lobster species, and it takes seven to eight years for a lobster to reach maturity.