Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-04 04:00:04
The plans to encourage offshore fishing have not yielded the expected results, as indicated in the Audit report. The Canotte Scheme was introduced in the 2014-2015 budget. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a sum of Rs 4 million was allocated to the Ministry of Fisheries for this project, aimed at fishermen holding cards, allowing them to finance the purchase of their respective boats up to 50%, with a maximum of Rs 200,000.
As of December 2022, at least 2,900 fishermen were registered. However, by June 30, 2023, only 129 had benefited from the plan. In June 2022, the Ministry of Fisheries was instructed by the Ministry of Finance to turn to the National Resilience Fund for this project. A sum of Rs 2.6 million was obtained. However, the deadline for the Rs 4 million allocated in the budget had expired.
Over a period of three years, from 2021 to 2023, the number of fishermen benefiting from this plan fell below expectations. In 2020-2021, there were only 15 beneficiaries out of the expected 20; in 2021-2022, 18 out of 150 expected, and in 2022-2023, there were 13 out of 150 expected.
The plan was revised in August 2023, increasing the amount to Rs 300,000 instead of Rs 200,000. In September 2023, the Ministry had received 29 new applications, which were being reviewed by the Development Bank. Under the plan, the remaining 50% for boat financing can be borrowed from the Development Bank of Mauritius.
Another plan to encourage offshore fishing is the Purchase of Semi-Industrial Fishing Boat Scheme. Introduced in the 2017-2018 budget, it provided financing of Rs 4 million, covering 50% of the cost of a semi-industrial boat. By June 2023, there were 43 registered fishing cooperatives. However, as of September 2023, only five cooperatives had benefited from this fund.
From 2017 to 2023, only Rs 19.8 million of the Rs 84 million earmarked for the plan had been utilized. In December 2022, a new tender exercise was launched. The three submitted projects were rejected. Consequently, the deadline for the Rs 12 million allocated in the 2022-2023 budget had expired.
Additionally, as of June 30, 2023, out of the five cooperatives that received financing, only three had already received their boats and were engaged in offshore fishing activities.
The Audit also highlights the lack of training at the Mauritius Maritime Training Academy. Training is offered based on demand and the number of candidates. For the financial year 2022-2023, expenses amounted to Rs 10,490,989 for MMTA, with only 381 people trained. In 2021-2022, expenses were Rs 11,426,316 for 300 people trained. In 2020-2021, MMTA had a budget of Rs 11,643,298 for 179 people trained.
The report also points out the lack of qualified trainers and appropriate equipment. For instance, in 2017, training was interrupted due to the unavailability of a lifeboat. The two boats purchased at a cost of Rs 5.2 million in 2011 had been vandalized. It was only in September 2020 that the ministry received two lifeboats as a gift.
The Audit notes that although the ministry has the necessary infrastructure and personnel, STCW training has been provided by a private entity, the Maritime Training Institute (MTI). Out of the 2,097 people trained in the past three years, 41% were at MMTA and 59% at MTI.
The mismanagement of the 12 barachois under the responsibility of the Ministry of Fisheries is also criticized. Seven were allocated for aquaculture projects, but only two are used for such activities.
Furthermore, several institutions operating under the Ministry of Fisheries have not submitted their financial reports for auditing for several years.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
