Mauritius: Why Is an Island Importing Fish?
[L'Express] Mauritius has always had an odd relationship with the sea. We live on an island, boast an enormous maritime zone and speak enthusiastically about the Blue Economy. Yet when it comes to putting fish on the table, we remain heavily dependent on imports. The government's new ambition to raise local fish production from roughly 5,000 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes within three years is therefore…
Mauritius, an island nation with a rich maritime zone, has long been known for its Blue Economy. However, despite its abundant natural resource, the country remains heavily dependent on fish imports. The government's ambitious plan to increase local fish production from around 5,000 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes within three years is a significant step towards reconnecting the island's economy with its natural asset.
This goal is more than just a fisheries policy; it's an attempt to build a comprehensive and integrated seafood industry. The proposed measures include improved artisanal boats, smart fish aggregating devices, semi-industrial vessels, deep-water banks, tuna longlining, aquaculture, and the landing of foreign vessels' by-catch. The key objective is not just to catch more fish but to capture more value from them.
The plan anticipates a substantial rise in semi-industrial production, increased activity on fishing banks, greater use of tuna resources, and the local landing of more by-catch. Aquaculture, in particular, could play a crucial role. Currently, 90% of aquaculture production is exported while Mauritius still imports fish, indicating a potential misalignment in the system.
Encouraging local producers to contribute a share of their commercially viable output to the domestic market could be beneficial, provided the economics remain attractive. The proposed fishing port and seafood-processing hub are expected to provide the sector with much-needed infrastructure, including cold storage, processing, logistics, and markets.
This could help the sector move from simply catching more fish to capturing more value from them. However, the success of this ambitious plan depends on several factors. The target of 15,000 tonnes should not be a political fetish but a realistic goal that takes into account the biological capacity of the ocean to replenish itself.
Each new fishing ground, aquaculture project, and increase in extraction must be assessed for its impact on stock sustainability, economic viability, and environmental health. The ministry's initiative needs a corresponding second half: measurement and risk management. Every new venture should be evaluated within a clear framework of stocks, carrying capacity, economics, and environmental impact.
The proposed fishing port could be a pivotal element in turning fisheries into a value chain, linking landing, cold storage, processing, logistics, and markets. This could significantly enhance the economic potential of the sector, create jobs, and reduce import dependence. The success of this ambitious plan hinges on whether more locally produced fish reaches consumers at competitive prices, whether fishermen's incomes improve, whether processing creates more jobs, and whether imports actually decrease.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
