Background

The fisheries sector in Seychelles is critically important for ensuring both food security and economic development. The industrial marine fisheries, targeting mostly tunas, have grown considerably over the last three decades, but the artisanal fisheries also remains of great importance. Small-scale artisanal fisheries exploit a high diversity of species and habitats. Most of the small-scale artisanal fisheries are undertaken on the Mahé Plateau (55°30’E, 4°30’S), an area of about 41,000 km², of which the greatest part lies at depth of between 50–65 m. The plateau is closed to industrial fishing but is fished by about 140 whalers and schooners and at least another 500 outboard vessels and sport/recreational fishing boats. The whaler and schooner fleet undertake fishing trips lasting several days and fish the whole of the plateau away from the near shore areas. Conversely, the outboard fleet operates on a day to day basis and tends to stay close to the central granitic islands. The whalers and schooners usually fish using hand lines or hand winch often with multiple hooks whereas the outboard fleet usually fish using hand lines with single hook and traditional bamboo traps. The main species targeted by the hand line fishery are snappers, groupers and emperors, whereas the trap fishery targets rabbitfish, parrotfish and emperors.

The Emperor red snapper (Lutjanus sebae) is the most sought after species in the plateau demersal fishery and is often used as an indicator of the general health of the demersal fish stock on the Mahé Plateau. Concerns over the status of L. sebae stock were raised when catches of this species began to increase dramatically in 2004. Prior to 2004, this species had been harvested at around the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY; 380 t) for over 10 years. In response to this dramatic increase in the catch of this species, the SFA embarked on a detailed stock assessment using rigorous and widely accepted methods. By 2007 catch of this species had reached 1077 t per annum and had more than tripled MSY. This highlighted major risks from continued targeting at those levels. From 2008 to 2012 a steady decline was observed in catches and a stock assessment undertaken in 2010 concluded that the exploitation rate were still above the rate to achieve MSY and the stock status of emperor red snapper was described as overexploited.In 2012, the estimated catch had reduced significantly to only 209 t. Similar to emperor red-snapper the catch of groupers peaked in 2007 when a total of 158 t were caught. Between 2008 and 2012 a steady decline have been observed in annual catch with in catch was observed with only 71.6 t caught in 2012, raising concern on sustainability of stocks. This has been exacerbated in more recent years with the entrance into this fishery of a number of larger vessels which were previously targeting swordfish and tunas. These vessels are utilizing bottom-set long lines, which are increasing the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) and causing serious risk for the management of the demersal fish resources.

The vision of the Government of Seychelles is to develop Seychelles’ blue economy and ensure sustainability of fisheries resources through improvement in fisheries management. There is already a fishery co-management plan which will start implementation later this year for the area around the islands of Praslin and La Digue. It is anticipated that a similar management plan will be discussed and drafted for the coastal area around the island of Mahé. Overarching to these area/fleet based management plans, there is a need for resource-based management objectives and control rules for key demersal species that are shared among areas.

Objective of the assignment 

The main objective of this consultancy is to review and update an existing management plan for the plateau demersal fishery - “Management plan for artisanal and recreational demersal fisheries”, which was developed with support by the EAF-Nansen Project “Strengthening the Knowledge Base for and Implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Marine Fisheries in Developing Countries “and the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project”. The update will incorporate decision control rules and identifying management measures to meet objectives. Scientific advice on key resources and exploitation status will be made available to the consultant through another consultancy which is to be completed just prior to the commencement of this assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specific tasks of the assignment are as follows:

• Plan and facilitate 3 consultative stakeholders workshops;
• Reconcile objectives for key demersal fish stocks with objectives for the ecosystem and socio-economic aspects of the fishery that are elaborated in the draft Management plan for artisanal and recreational demersal fisheries;
• Draft the Fishery Management Plan, incorporating inputs and decisions from the stakeholders workshops and ensuring that it is in line with the Fisheries Bill;
• Prepare an action plan with clear deadlines and responsibility for each action to allow for the timely implementation of the management plan;
• Provide a breakdown and approximate cost of resources that are required to implement the action plan;
• Provide guidelines to assess the effectiveness of the management plan and methodology to review the plan;
• Facilitate a final workshop to present the management plan to stakeholders.

Deliverables are as follows:

• A revised Management plan for artisanal and recreational demersal fisheries with clear objectives set for the fishery, biological reference points and control rules to be implemented in the event that reference points are reached;
• A technical report at the end of each session with stakeholders detailing the points discussed, issued raised and any particular points on which consensus was not reached;
• A final mission report with main issues raised and deliberations from the stakeholders workshops/meetings, consultations undertaken and problems/difficulties encountered in the undertaking of the consultancy.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional competencies:

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
• In-depth knowledge on governance and development issues;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Ability to apply and work within a system of strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to analyze development, institutional and governance issues and formulate effectiuve recommendations
• Strong IT skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Understands and applies appropriate team roles effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills, communicating technical and legally complex messages in sometimes stressful situations;
• Builds strong relationships with different stakeholders;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Minimum PhD degree in Fisheries, Marine Sciences, or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in undertaking fisheries productivity-susceptibility analysis and stock assessments;
• At least 5 years’ experience in the preparation of Fisheries Management Plan;
• At least 5 years’ experience in working with tropical multi-species fisheries management;
• At least 5 years’ experience in working on fisheries resource co-management;
• Experience in leading consultative workshops with a variety of resources users and other stakeholders;
• Ability to relate to, work with, and address, varied groups of people;
• Prior UNDP/GEF project experience, and knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and guidelines, is an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in English;
  
• knowledge of French and Creole an asset but not a requirement.