Seychelles Fishing Authority

What Seychelles Fishing Authority does

Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) is the statutory government agency responsible for the sustainable management and development of Seychelles' marine fisheries resources, established in 1984 and headquartered at the Fishing Port in Victoria, Mahé. SFA operates across six distinct fishery categories — Industrial (purse seine tuna), Artisanal, Semi-Industrial, Lobster, Sea Cucumber, and Net — plus an Aquaculture division focused on finfish larval rearing, microalgae cultivation, and sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) aquaculture protocols. Port Victoria functions as the designated hub of the Indian Ocean purse seine tuna fishery under SFA's oversight. Regulatory services include the issuance of Industrial, Local, and Class 3–4 Semi-Industrial Fishing Licences, boat owner and fishers registration, certificates of authorisation, and management of a Fisheries Development Fund providing loans to the sector.

SFA's digital portfolio comprises three platforms: the Seychelles Digital Ocean Atlas (marineatlas.sc) for marine and ocean data visualization, the Seychelles Aquaculture Portal (aquaculture.sfa.sc) for aquaculture research dissemination, and the Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) operated via traseable.com for boat registration and fisheries data tracking. A Scientific Observer Programme deploys trained personnel onto fishing vessels to collect compliance and biological data, feeding into monitoring, control, and surveillance operations.

Revenue is generated through regulated licensing fees, certificates of authorisation, port management services (including ice plant operations at Victoria Fishing Port), and fisheries development loans channelled through the Development Bank of Seychelles and Seychelles Development Fund. SFA maintains strategic partnerships with multilateral bodies including FAO, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the European Union, IRD, WIOMSA, SeyCCAT, and The Nature Conservancy. The authority is led by CEO Dr. Jan Robinson with Deputy CEO Aubrey Lesperance, operates with 51–100 employees, and recorded a 23.12% increase in fisheries income from 2021 to 2022.

Name

Seychelles Fishing Authority

Legal name

Seychelles Fisheries Authority

Website

https://sfa.sc

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Seychelles Fisheries Authority is a government agency established in 1984 that licenses, regulates, and manages Seychelles' industrial, artisanal, semi-industrial, lobster, sea cucumber, and net fisheries, while operating aquaculture development, scientific observer programmes, and marine data platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries Management

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH)

Keywords

• Fisheries management
• Fishing licensing
• Marine conservation
• Aquaculture development
• Fisheries regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Seychelles

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fishing Licences: Issuance of licences for industrial, semi-industrial, and local fishing operations
2. Certificates and Authorisations: Certificate of authorisation services for fishing operations
3. Port Services: Port management services including ice plant and facilities at Victoria Fishing Port
4. Fisheries Loans: Development fund and loan schemes for fisheries sector development

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Seychelles Fisheries Authority is a government agency that manages and regulates Seychelles' fisheries sector through licensing, boat and fisher registration, certificates of authorisation, and fisheries development loans. It oversees six distinct fishery types (Industrial, Artisanal, Semi-Industrial, Lobster, Sea Cucumber, and Net), supports aquaculture development, and operates digital platforms including the Digital Ocean Atlas and Fisheries Information Management System. It also runs the Scientific Observer Programme for monitoring and surveillance of fishing operations.

Product overview

The Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) is a government agency managing Seychelles' fisheries sector through multiple operational departments. The core offerings include six distinct fishery types (Industrial, Artisanal, Semi-Industrial, Lobster, Sea Cucumber, and Net Fishery) and Aquaculture development. These are supported by regulatory services including Fishing Licences, Boat/Fishers Registration, and Certificate of Authorisation. SFA also provides financial support through the Fisheries Development Fund. The digital portfolio includes three platforms: the Seychelles Digital Ocean Atlas for marine data visualization, the Seychelles Aquaculture Portal, and the Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS). The Scientific Observer Programme enables data collection for sustainable management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seychelles Aquaculture: Dedicated aquaculture platform operated by SFA for aquaculture development and research initiatives.

Products and services

• Fishing Licences Issuance and management of fishing licences including Industrial Fishing Licences, Local Licences, and Class 3–4 Semi-Industrial Fishing Licences for operators in Seychelles waters.
• Boat Owner and Fishers Registration Registration service for fishing vessels and individual fishers operating in Seychelles waters.
• Certificate of Authorisation Official certification service for fisheries-related business activities and operations.
• Fisheries Development Fund (Fisheries Loan) Loan programme providing financial support for fisheries sector development and modernisation.
• Industrial Fishery Management Management and regulation of large-scale commercial fishing operations, including licensing and sustainable quota enforcement for industrial fishing vessels operating in Seychelles waters, with Port Victoria as the regional hub of the purse seine tuna fishery.
• Artisanal Fishery Management Support and management of small-scale traditional fishing operations by local fishers, including registration and licensing services.
• Semi-Industrial Fishery Management Fisheries management service for mid-scale commercial fishing operations, classified under Class 3–4 Semi-Industrial Fishing Licences.
• Lobster Fishery Management Specialised management and sustainability monitoring for lobster harvesting in Seychelles marine waters.
• Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Management and conservation of sea cucumber resources through partnership with SeyCCAT for sustainable harvesting practices.
• Net Fishery Management Regulation and oversight of net-based fishing activities in Seychelles waters.
• Aquaculture Development Development and promotion of farmed seafood production including finfish larval rearing, microalgae cultivation for fish feed, and Tripneustes gratilla (sea urchin) aquaculture protocols.
• Scientific Observer Programme Programme for deploying trained observers on fishing vessels to collect scientific data and ensure compliance with sustainable fishing practices.
• Seychelles Digital Ocean Atlas Interactive digital mapping platform for visualising and analysing Seychelles marine and ocean data.
• Seychelles Aquaculture Portal Dedicated online resource portal for aquaculture information, research updates, and industry collaboration in Seychelles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of global tuna catch now comes from stocks at healthy abundance levels
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench research institute collaborating on fisheries science and marine research projects
• WIOMSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Indian Ocean Marine Science Association supporting regional marine science collaboration
• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fisheries management organization for tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean
• Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal trust supporting sea cucumber sustainability and climate adaptation projects
• European Union (EU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding and support for marine research and sustainable fisheries development in Seychelles
• FAOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood and Agriculture Organization providing international frameworks and guidelines for fisheries management
• Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational broadcaster for public awareness and communications
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization collaborating on lobster fishery management

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries: Norway's national fisheries management authority responsible for licensing, quotas, monitoring, and sustainable management of fisheries. Directly comparable as a government fisheries regulator with regulatory, licensing, and scientific functions analogous to SFA, though operating at much larger scale.
• Mauritius Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping: National authority in Mauritius regulating fisheries and marine resources in the Western Indian Ocean. Closely comparable to SFA given the shared Indian Ocean geography, small island developing state context, and overlapping fisheries portfolio including tuna.
• Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA): Regional fisheries management body serving Pacific Island states, focused on sustainable tuna management, licensing, and VMS. Directly comparable to SFA's fisheries management and licensing function, but operating as a multi-country regional body rather than a single national authority.
• Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA): Australian Government agency that manages commercial fisheries through licensing, compliance, and ecological risk management. Directly comparable to SFA as a statutory authority with similar licensing, monitoring, and ecosystem-based management mandates.
• Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI): Maldives' national marine research and fisheries science institute conducting fisheries monitoring, stock assessment, and aquaculture research. Comparable to SFA in combining fisheries science, monitoring, and aquaculture development functions in a small island Indian Ocean setting.

Broad incumbents

• European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA): EU agency coordinating fisheries control, inspection, and compliance across member states. Comparable to SFA in its monitoring, control and surveillance mandate, but operating as a broader regional coordinating body rather than a single-jurisdiction regulator.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Fisheries and Aquaculture Division: United Nations body providing international frameworks, guidelines, and technical assistance for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Comparable to SFA in addressing sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development, though at a global rather than national level.

Regional players

• Pacific Community (SPC): International development organisation providing fisheries science, monitoring, and policy support to Pacific Island states. Comparable to SFA in providing fisheries research, data, and capacity-building services, but operating regionally and not a national regulator.

Others

• Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA): Regional association promoting marine science collaboration across the Western Indian Ocean. Comparable to SFA's research and ecosystem-based management mandate, though operating as a scientific network rather than a national regulator.
• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC): Regional fisheries management organisation for tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. Listed as a core strategic partner of SFA; comparable as a coordinating body for the tuna fishery in which SFA's Port Victoria plays a hub role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@seychellesfisheriesauthority
• Facebookfacebook.com/SeychellesFishingAuthority
• Instagraminstagram.com/seychellesfisheriesauthority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Seychelles Fishing Authority