Republic of Mauritius- Fishing cooperatives benefit from Financial Grant Scheme for purchase of semi-industrial vessel

The inauguration of the vessel was held today at the Trou Fanfaron Fishing Port in port-Louis, in presence of the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, and the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong.

In his address, Minister Bholah recalled that the Scheme provides financial support to cooperative societies to enable them to acquire semi-industrial vessels as a means to fish in the outer reef and on the banks. He pointed out that four cooperative societies have already benefitted from the Scheme and that three others will soon receive their letters of intent.

He pointed out that the fishermen community is one of the most important stakeholders of the fisheries sector while adding that it is important to equip them with the necessary resources and tools for big catches. A series of incentives, benefits and services, he stated, have been put at the disposal of fishermen so that they harness the potentials of the ocean and contribute to making it a crucial economic pillar of the country.

These include: setting up of a Cooperative Seafood Processing Unit at Tamarin for fishermen cooperatives to transform their fish catches into value-added products; grant of Rs 25 000 to twenty cooperative societies for setting up ornamental fish breeding farms; increase of Rs 20 000 in the grant  provided to fishermen cooperatives to purchase outboard engines and fishing nets; and  provision of  refrigerated truck to the tune of some Rs 3.2 million for preservation and restoration of the stock of fisheries.

Minister Bholah also spoke of the increasing need to diversify and consolidate the fishing sector in Mauritius as the breeding of ornamental fish is a lucrative market that is gaining momentum in Mauritius. On this score, he urged more cooperatives to come forward and contribute to leverage the fisheries sector as well as support its diversification for the welfare of the fishermen community.

Also present, the secretary of Yéyé Offshore Fishing Cooperative Society Ltd, Mr Judex Rampaul stated that the acquisition of the new semi-industrial vessel will enable fishermen to fish in far seas and bring better quality catches. He added that in some three years, with the purchase of more fishing vessels, the society will be able to deliver some 150 tons of fishes as well as provide employment to some 200 people.