Artisanal fishers in Seychelles will as from April 1 be able to contribute towards a new pension scheme with the Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF), on a voluntary basis.
The scheme, which was initially announced by Minister for Finance, National Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan, during the 2025 budget presentation, has been made possible through the collaborative effort of the ministry, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) and the European Union (EU).
“Following much negotiation with the EU, we have managed to secure funding to start the scheme off, and to sustain it for numerous years. Each time fishers make their contribution, the EU has agreed to match the amount,” Minister Ferrari noted.
In order to qualify, fishers, including boat owners or fishing vessel crew members, must be registered with the SFA. Currently, there are some 500 to 600 registered fishers, around 120 of whom were already voluntarily contributing to the SPF, through the #Protecting You campaign.
Source: Seychelles Nation 18.01.2025