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· Increased freight charges and fewer available international flights are negatively affecting fish exports from Seychelles as a result of the pandemic
· Also the freight charges also have gone up. Earlier, they were paying only US$3 for a kilo; now it has gone up to US$7
· The demand from overseas has come down by 50 percent since food outlets and restaurants are closed at export destinations
Increased freight charges and fewer available international flights are negatively affecting fish exports from Seychelles as a result of the pandemic. Seafood exporters say that before the pandemic, they were exporting six days a week to the usual markets. Presently, they were exporting only three days a week. This is mostly because of the limited flights operating, they point out. Also the freight charges also have gone up. Earlier, they were paying only US$3 for a kilo; now it has gone up to US$7.
The demand from overseas has come down by 50 percent since food outlets and restaurants are closed at export destinations. That forces the food exporters not to increase prices. Yet, they have to navigate through a low profit margin because of lack of demand. Major fish exporting destinations, particularly sword fish and tuna , are England, France and the United State.
Most fish exported are caught from semi-industrial fishing, which targets swordfish, tuna and tuna-like species mostly within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Seychelles. The semi-industrial sector comprises the monofilament longline fishery operating around the Mahe plateaux. On an average, these vessels remain at sea for 10 days, preserving their catch on ice. There are around 30 vessels that are involved in semi-industrial fishing in the island nation.
