The fish auction market in Mauritius to open in January 2012

The fish auction market, which was announced in 2007, is scheduled to open in January 2012 at Trou Fanfaron, Port Louis. “This system will allow boats to sell their catch directly to customers in appropriate structures,” said minister of Fisheries, Nicolas Von-Mally.

The officers of the ministry are also studying the possibility of opening other fish auction markets in different regions so that all fishermen can benefit from it.

“The huge work has already been completed and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has already issued the Completion Certificate. Now we will proceed with the installation of refrigeration equipment. The contract was awarded for the sum of Rs 6.2 million,” said the minister.

He added that the market should be operational next January and they have to find the best way to operate the platform, either by the public / private partnership or an international tender for the selection of the operator. “I want to give new life to the fishing sector and we will be doing everything to boost its expansion,” he said.

Von-Mally wants to revitalise the fishing industry and among his initiatives are the delivery of boats for semi-industrial fishing by the Fishermen Investment Trust (FIT), the development of barachois in several parts of the island and the culture of sea cucumber.

From the official figures of the Ministry of Fisheries, the fishing industry generates sales of approximately Rs 18.4 billion, or 1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and accounts for more than 12,000 direct jobs and more than 24,000 indirect jobs, and 20 per cent of exports.

Von-Mally also said that additional measures are being planned by his ministry to fight illegal fishing.

“The enforcement provisions of the law will be strengthened, inhabitants of coastal areas will be made aware to deter and report illegal fishing, additional staff to ensure better control will be recruited, new patrol units will be acquired, the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) will be increased ,” he said.