Monitoring the shark and ray bycatch of an artisanal mackerel fishery in Seychelles
On Mahé’s Beau Vallon beach, mackerel fishers still operate out of traditional pirogue vessels. Theirs is an almost daily endeavour and although they target mackerel fish, juvenile sharks and rays are frequently trapped in their nets too. The capture of sharks using nets is prohibited in Seychelles, but the fishers retain much of their bycatch because it is bought by locals. This catch is currently unmonitored and unregulated. Sophie is starting an intensive 12-month programme of monitoring the fishery’s elasmobranch bycatch, hoping to gather information that will give a more thorough understanding of the fishery’s impact on elasmobranchs.
Sophie Berlouis
Growing up in Seychelles, I spent many weekends hiking, snorkelling and exploring the islands’ forests. These experiences make up some of my most cherished memories and were primarily the result of my father’s interest in wildlife. My exposure to the rich ecosystems of this tropical archipelago meant that I developed a deep appreciation for nature from an early age. Although I am interested in terrestrial wildlife, my passion lies with the ocean, and I especially enjoy scuba-diving and underwater photography. I am also enthusiastic about animal rights and advocate for lifestyle choices that reduce our day-to-day impact on...
The Hidden Catch: Investigating the Impact of Artisanal Mackerel Fishing on Juvenile Elasmobranchs in Seychelles
The project’s primary objective is to monitor the shark and ray bycatch of an artisanal mackerel fishery in Seychelles. By examining key biological data over an entire year, we aim to identify trends in particularly vulnerable species and life stages, with the ultimate goal of driving the development of protective regulations for elasmobranchs.
Despite the alarming population status of many elasmobranch species, these keystone animals comprise a notable portion of fisheries’ catches in Seychelles. The lack of regulation with regard to specific species or sizes means that endangered, breeding and juvenile individuals are regularly harvested. The poor management of the elasmobranch fishery can largely be attributed to poor knowledge of the species being caught. The project aims to address this key conservation issue by conducting a comprehensive 12-month bycatch monitoring programme.
Early settlers’ accounts reveal that sharks and rays were once abundant in Seychelles’ waters. However, with a growing human population and an expanding fishing industry, their populations have declined steadily over recent decades to the point that several elasmobranch species inhabiting the archipelago now face the risk of global extinction. At present, the spotted eagle ray and the short-horned pygmy devil ray are classified as Endangered, while the scalloped hammerhead shark, ornate eagle ray and bottlenose wedgefish are classified as Critically Endangered. Despite their threatened status, these species are frequently caught by artisanal fishermen, either incidentally or as targeted catch, and they currently lack any legal protection in Seychelles.
The project focuses on an artisanal mackerel beach seine fishery operating out of Beau Vallon beach – the last of its kind on Mahé using a traditional pirogue. The fishermen head out almost daily and, although they target mackerel, juvenile sharks and rays are frequently trapped in their nets. The capture of sharks using nets is, in fact, prohibited in Seychelles, yet the fishermen retain much of their bycatch as it is readily bought by locals. This catch is currently unmonitored and unregulated, presenting a crucial data gap and a serious challenge for elasmobranch conservation in Seychelles.
In view of this, the project seeks to implement an intensive 12-month programme that monitors the fishery’s elasmobranch bycatch. After liaising with the fishermen, we will establish a presence at each landing site and collect key biometric data of sharks and rays caught. This information will serve as a crucial baseline on which we can build a more thorough understanding of the fishery’s impact on various elasmobranch species. Ultimately, the findings seek to inform the development of protective regulations for highly threatened species or particularly vulnerable life stages of sharks and rays in Seychelles.
- To collect biometric data from the elasmobranch bycatch of an artisanal mackerel fishery and thus better understand its impact on various species at different life stages.
- To enhance public awareness about the population status of local elasmobranch species and the effects of unregulated bycatch practices on those facing the risk of extinction.
- To drive efforts to improve the monitoring and regulation of elasmobranch catches at a national scale.