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.

The main objectives of this consultancy are: a) to undertake a productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) on species taken in the plateau fishery for demersal fish resources; b) to carry out stock assessments for key species and species group identified as part of the productivity-susceptibility analysis, c) to develop options for objectives, biological reference points and decision control rules for assessed stocks, and d) to mentor a staff member selected by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) in undertaking PSAs and stock assessments. The scientific advice provided will be made available to a consultant working in parallel to the current assignment, who will be charged with stakeholder consultation and drafting of the fisheries management plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specific tasks of the assignment are as follows:

• Review the species, including by-catch, and gears in the plateau fishery for demersal fish resources;
• Review the spatial distribution over time of fleets and gears and any available data on the selectivity of different gears in the fishery;  
• Undertake a productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) on species taken in the plateau fishery for demersal fish resources in order to identify populations that are most vulnerable to fishing. The PSA should be conducted in a workshop environment with susceptibility attributes scored by stakeholders informed by available data. As a workshop outcome, prioritise species for stock assessment and management actions based on the result of the PSA;
• Identify data availability and data quality and relevant methods for stock assessment of species prioritized by the PSA;
• Undertake stock assessment for key species and/or species group identified as part of the productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) and use assessment models to estimate fishing mortality, stock biomass, limit and target reference points (for fishing mortality and biomass) and other key parameters and estimate their uncertainty;
• Present results of the stock assessment exercise to stakeholders and identify any disagreements in the data and methods used and results and perception of stock status;
• Develop options for objectives, biological reference points and decision control rules for assessed stocks. Use model scenarios to ensure that the selected objectives and decision control rules meet higher order policy objectives (e.g. food security, ecosystem impacts);
• Revise decision control rules as required after consultations with stakeholders;
• Quantify options for management measures to operationalize the decision control rules (management strategy evaluation for data poor fisheries);
• Review the Fleet/Area management plan for Praslin to integrate the decision control rules for stocks relevant to their fleet./areas;
• Identify further research and data collection needs which would be required for improved stock assessment and implementation of agreed decision control rules;
• Mentor a staff selected by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) in undertaking risk and stock assessments.

Deliverables are as follows:

• A short work plan with time lines, to be submitted not more than 1 week after signature of the contract and which provides details on how to complete the tasks mentioned above;
• A detailed technical report integrating the outputs of  various tasks;
  
• 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

Required Skills and Experience

• 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 working with fisheries data and data-poor stock assessment methods;
• Experience in leading consultative workshops with resources users and other stakeholders;
• Ability to relate to, work with, and address, varied groups of people;
• Ability to teach, mentor and motivate an understudy in undertaking the activities and tasks as stipulated;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• 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.