A new 124-meter wide wharf is being built at Ile du Port, Seychelles. The site will be used by Indian Ocean purse seiners to stock up with salt, bunker fuel, unload tuna for processing as well have nets repaired.
Local officials say there is a lot of potential in other processing activities besides canning tuna, such as loins. Land provisions have been made for cold storage and other facilities.
The R50 million (USD 3.8 million) project should be completed by July and is mostly funded by the European Union whose vessels are fishing in Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone.
It is hoped that the new wharf will attract potential Spanish, French, Portuguese and other interested investors. It is also hoped that the fishermen and their vessels who left the Indian Ocean due to piracy will return to the area.
