Continued Implementation of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (SYC0005)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? The commitment seeks to address the problem of limited stakeholder participation in the marine fisheries sector of Seychelles. It affects fishing communities, civil society organizations, and processing industries. The issue leads to feelings of exclusion, mistrust, and ignorance among these stakeholders – despite a significant increase in the public availability of government information to due to implementation of the FiTI Standard. They are most affected when critical decisions on fisheries management are made, perpetuating mistrust and hampering effective, sustainable management. The problem has historical roots and has impacted those affected for many years, with the duration varying based on specific contexts and the extent of reforms implemented to address the challenges. It is therefore recognized that the impact of enhancing transparency in fisheries through the FiTI does not lie in the act of publishing information alone. It relies on how this information is used and on the willingness of decision makers to listen to the ideas and concerns of stakeholders on how marine fisheries should be managed. Causes of the Problem ➔ Historical Context: marine fisheries is a common resource, and its management was primarily delegated to national authorities. Hence, decision-making was often centralized within government agencies or international bodies. Local fishing communities, civil society organizations, and processing industries, who are most directly reliant on the sector, were often left out of the decision-making process. This exclusion created a sense of powerlessness among these communities, leading to frustration and apathy. ➔ Limited Involvement of Processing Industries: Processing industries, which are integral to adding value to fish products and contributing to the economic development of Seychelles, were seldom engaged in discussions about fisheries management. This lack of participation hindered efforts to maximize the economic potential of the sector. ➔ Mistrust and Lack of Transparency: The lack of involvement of these stakeholders fueled mistrust between local communities, the government, and international organizations involved in fisheries management. This mistrust hindered cooperation and compliance with regulations. The lack of public accessible and trusted data further increased opportunities for ignorance or deliberate misinformation. ➔ Ignorance of Sector's Importance: A lack of information regarding the socio-economic importance of fisheries (in particular compared to Seychelles’ tourism sector) contributed to a general ignorance about the sector's importance, both economically and in terms of food security. Many people in Seychelles may not fully appreciate the critical role the fishing industry plays in their daily lives. ➔ Lack of capacity: The ability of non-governmental actors to engage in participatory processes in often hindered by a lack of organisation of such actors, e.g. the absence of legitimate associations representing fishing communities. ➔ ‘Village’ nature of small island states like Seychelles: The willingness of non- governmental actors to use information to hold their government accountable is undermined when every official is related to or well-acquainted with everyone on the island.

What is the commitment? To become compliant Seychelles must take the following corrective actions: Seychelles' commitment to achieving compliance with the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) entails the revitalization and strengthening of the National Multi-Stakeholder Group (NMSG). This includes ensuring transparent and fair procedures for nominating and rotating NMSG members. Additionally, the establishment of a dedicated FiTI National Secretariat will be supported, with the allocation of sufficient time for its staff. Seychelles will further formalize inclusive strategies aimed at making FiTI information contribute effectively to sustainable policy-making, oversight, and accountability. The commitment extends to active engagement with stakeholders and the exploration of partnerships with relevant institutions. Lastly, institutional arrangements for ensuring that the country remains FiTI compliant will be determined.

How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? In addressing the problem of limited stakeholder participation and enhancing transparency in its marine fisheries sector, Seychelles has taken significant steps. The country's commitment to improving the credibility of information in the fisheries sector involves active involvement from various stakeholders, including the government, industry, and civil society. In 2019, Seychelles established a National Multi-Stakeholder Group (NMSG) with the primary objective of ensuring the full implementation of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) in the country. This collective effort is aimed at strengthening transparency, participation, and accountability in fisheries governance, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable management of its marine fisheries. Importantly, the FiTI initiative is recognized as complementary to Seychelles' broader agenda of advancing a sustainable Blue Economy. Seychelles' NMSG's ambition goes beyond just improving local fisheries governance. It seeks to hold decision-makers accountable and sets an example for other countries worldwide. By demonstrating its commitment to transparency and stakeholder participation, Seychelles encourages other nations to take similar steps. This ripple effect establishes a global standard of transparency in fisheries, creating a level playing field for countries in the management of this critical sector. As part of its commitment to the FiTI, Seychelles has published three annual reports to date. These reports have significantly contributed to making more information available to the public. They have also played a vital role in making several fisheries agreements public, shedding light on the terms and conditions governing Seychelles' engagement in the global fisheries trade. This proactive approach not only enhances transparency at the national level but also sets an example for other SIDS and nations worldwide, demonstrating the power of information-sharing and cooperation in promoting sustainable fisheries management. 1. Online fisheries transparency. The basis for informed stakeholder engagement is the provision of relevant, trusted and understandable information. Seychelles will therefore continue implementing the FiTI Standard. This will not only include publishing annual FiTI Reports, but will also emphasis improving the online availability of government information (e.g. as part of its new Fisheries Information Management System). 2. Enhanced Stakeholder Participation: The key element of the solution is to actively involve fishing communities, civil society organizations, and processing industries in decision-making processes related to fisheries management. This will ensure their voices are heard, local knowledge is valued, and their concerns are addressed. This may also relate to co-management strategies to share responsibility and decision-making power between government authorities, industry representatives, and local communities. 3. Institutionalization of transparency: The long-term resilience of good governance initiatives like the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) rely on solid institutional arrangements to ensure compliance with the FiTI’s requirement, but also continuation beyond political changes or economic fluctuations. Such arrangement may include administrative and operational support for the country’s National MSG, policy changes, resource provision, personnel assignments (e.g. Information Officer), etc. **How it differs from previous efforts:** This solution differs from previous efforts because it emphasizes cooperation among all stakeholders and the provision of opportunities for collaboration of non-governmental stakeholders in national decision-making process regarding Seychelles’ fisheries sector. Historically, these groups were often marginalized in decision-making processes. The involvement of FiTI and the commitment to publish annual reports signify a stronger commitment to transparency and information sharing. **In what way will the solution solve the problem:** The solution will address the problem by fostering trust, encouraging local knowledge and expertise, increasing transparency, and ensuring that all stakeholders play a role in shaping fisheries policies and regulations. It will create a more balanced and participatory approach to fisheries management. **Will it solve the problem in its entirety or partially:** The solution will partially solve the problem. While it greatly improves transparency, participation, and accountability in fisheries management, it may not entirely eliminate all challenges, especially those linked to external factors like climate change and illegal fishing. Nevertheless, it represents a significant step toward a more sustainable and inclusive fisheries sector in Seychelles. **What portion of the problem will it solve, if not the whole problem:** The solution will address the portions of the problem related to stakeholder participation, transparency, and local involvement in decision-making processes. It will also contribute to the economic and social well-being of fishing communities, civil society organizations, and processing industries. However, it may not address broader issues such as climate change's impact on fish stocks, which require global efforts and strategies beyond the national or regional level. **Issue: Information Accessibility and Relevance** Despite efforts to increase transparency and publish reports in the fisheries sector, there remains a significant challenge in making this information accessible, comprehensible, and directly relevant to the specific needs of fishers. This issue arises for several reasons: 1. **Complexity of Information:** Fisheries-related data and reports can be complex, technical, and filled with jargon, making them difficult for local fishers, who may not have formal education in fisheries management, to fully understand. 2. **Information Overload:** In some cases, there may be an abundance of data and reports, leading to information overload. Fishers may struggle to sift through vast amounts of data to find the specific information that pertains to their daily activities. 3. **Relevance to Local Needs:** Even when information is accessible, it may not always align with the immediate concerns and needs of local fishers, who often prioritize issues like weather conditions, equipment maintenance, and local fishing regulations. 4. Meeting fatigue: Stakeholders with a strong interest in improving the long-term sustainability of the sector may still not be willing to engage with initiative’s such as the FiTI (e.g. Seychelles FiTI NMSG) or decision-making processes due to a general ‘meeting fatigue’ or even apathy regarding long-term strategies. **Proposed Solution: Tailored Information Delivery** To address the challenge of information accessibility and relevance to fishers, the solution should include the following measures: 1. **Simplified Communication:** Translate technical and complex information into simple, understandable terms. Use visual aids, infographics, and local languages to convey important messages. This has already been started with the new Fisheries Information Management System, provided by the Seychelles Fishing Authority, and will be further enhanced. 2. **Interactive Workshops:** Conduct workshops and training sessions to educate fishers about how to access, interpret, and utilize the available information effectively as well as opportunities for engaging in public decision-making processes.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? Seychelles' commitment to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) promotes transparency in the fisheries sector and aims to improve citizens' access to information and data. Key elements include strengthening the National Multi-Stakeholder Group, establishing a dedicated FiTI National Secretariat, and ensuring that FiTI information contributes to policy-making and accountability. To enhance transparency, Seychelles can make data more user-friendly, localize information for fishers' needs, educate the public, implement open data initiatives, and establish feedback mechanisms. These measures work together to increase transparency, accessibility, and relevance of fisheries-related data for the benefit of Seychelles' citizens and the sustainable management of its fisheries. Seychelles' commitment to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) contributes to the accountability in the fisheries sector by encouraging national decision makers to listen to the ideas and concerns of stakeholders on how marine fisheries should be managed, and to ensure that other stakeholders with the country’s accountability eco-system, such as media and civil society watchdogs, have access to relevant and trusted data. Seychelles' commitment to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) aims to improve citizen participation in fisheries management by ensuring fair selection of stakeholders in the National Multi- Stakeholder Group, and formalizing strategies for informed and inclusive policy-making.

Additional information

**Results We Want to Achieve:** 1. Publication of Seychelles’ annual FiTI Report for calendar years 2022, 2023 and 2024 – approved by Seychelles’ FiTI NMSG 2. Significant improvement of online available information to establish clear ‘phasing out’ approach of annual FiTI Reports 3. Recommendations by Seychelles’ FiTI NMSG on how to further improve involvement of non- governmental stakeholders in public decision-making processes 4. Capacity-building of public authorities (i.e. Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Seychelles Fishing Authority) to address recommendations to include participation5. Institutionalization of transparency and participation in Seychelles’ marine fisheries sector **Outputs We Would Like to Produce:** **Changes in Knowledge, Skills, and Capacities We Want to Achieve:** **Increased Knowledge:** Stakeholders, particularly fishers, media and parliamentarians, should possess a deeper understanding of the fisheries sector, its management, and the implications of their decisions. **Enhanced Skills:** Local fishers, business partners and civil society organizations should develop the skills required to analyze existing civic engagement mechanisms in fisheries (if any), how stakeholder participation in fisheries is incorporated in national laws and policies, how decision-making and collaboration procedures work (e.g. by invitation only, decisions by consensus), who are the stakeholders that get invited (only fisheries-related or also wider), what are the barriers of participation (e.g. lack of organised fisheries associations) and how to formulate SMART recommendations for improvement. **Capacity Building:** Governmental stakeholders should have the capacity to understand the basics of public participation and using civic tech for policy making in order to engage a broader audience and to familiarize their institutions with the value of participation, core principles, and relevance in their work. **Changes in Behavior, Systems, and Practices We Want to Create:** **Behavioral Change:** We aim to see stakeholders actively engaging in discussions, expressing their needs, and advocating for sustainable fisheries practices. **Systemic Improvements:** The commitment should lead to systemic changes that ensure greater inclusivity and transparency in fisheries management, with co-management approaches and FiTI implementation serving as examples. **Practices for Sustainable Fisheries:** Ultimately, the desired outcome is the adoption of practices that lead to sustainable fisheries management, benefiting both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities. This involves implementing policies and regulations that align with the long-term health of the fisheries sector.

Milestone status | Start date | End date

1. Enhancement of online availability and accessibility of fisheries information: A) Publication of Seychelles 2022 FiTI Report B) Publication of Seychelles 2023 FiTI Report C) Publication of Seychelles 2024 FiTI Report | January 2024; May 2024; January 2025 | April 2024; December 2024; December 2025

2. Interactive workshops regarding participation in marine fisheries: Online and in-person workshops with FiTI NMSG to analyse existing status quo of participatory mechanisms and to identify recommendation and opportunities for enhancement | January 2024 | May 2024

3. Institutionalization of transparency and participation in Seychelles fisheries sector: Operational strategy to ensure long-term resilience of the FiTI implementation in Seychelles. | January 2025 | December 2025

Action Plan Review

For a complete description of the commitment, see Commitment 1 at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16ypfzeiWXWbMMLsrzeNF2bwcm5oNxuDJ

Context and objectives:

This commitment is a continuation from the first action plan and aims to address the problem of limited stakeholder participation in marine governance, both in terms of the FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Forum composition and in terms of increasing sector transparency. According to Transparency Initiative Seychelles, improving fishery governance was an essential thematic area for civil society. [1] They lobbied the government to enhance transparency initiatives in the fishing sector, which led to Seychelles joining the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) and implementing FiTI standards. CSOs also advocated for the inclusion of this reform in OGP action plans. [2]

The first action plan led to the publication of FiTI reports, which has helped inform public debate and parliamentary discussion on fair and sustainable fisheries practices. The FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Group had broad government and civil society representation, however it was challenging to engage small-scale fishermen and private citizens in the process, as they were mostly focused on fishing rather than sectoral governance participation. Additionally, restrictions on in-person meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the government’s efforts to involve these groups. [3] The current commitment aims to address this challenge and builds on sectoral transparency progress by improving stakeholder participation in policymaking. It seeks to include formerly marginalized groups, embed open governance values into the fisheries, and address the unavailability of publicly accessible data and stakeholder disengagement in fisheries management. To achieve these aims, implementors have committed to disclosing marine sector data, to establish channels for participation in fisheries governance, and to formalize the FiTI multistakeholder group and secretariat under Commitment 1.

According to Consultant to the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy Philippe Michaud, [4] fisheries governance has a generally low participation rate in Seychelles. He added that in the past, the government consistently provided platforms for citizens to participate in marine governance, through roundtable discussions, meetings, and seminars. Therefore, it is important that this commitment is providing more opportunities for citizen participation. It intends to deepen inclusivity in Seychelles' policy-making process, accountability, and government transparency. It seeks to improve platforms for public participation beyond passive recipients of subsidies and policies, subsequently developing mutual government and grassroots interactions.

Potential for results: Substantial

Implementing the FiTI in Seychelles could substantially enhance transparency and accountability in the marine sector. Investing in FiTI is a strategic move that potentially yields benefits for other sectors in the country. While Seychelles’ fisheries contribute substantial revenue to the economy, [5] its management cannot be approached exclusively from an economic standpoint. These fisheries also link directly to historical, cultural, social, and environmental dynamics. Therefore, opening marine governance can generate sustainable cooperation from various stakeholders that have not been successfully engaged in the past, such as small-scale fishermen.

Commitment 1 could increase checks and balances within the public sector administration, resource management, trade (domestic and foreign), procurement, and policymaking. Due to FiTI obligations, Seychelles published the 2019, 2020, and 2021 FiTI reports [6] with detailed information on these areas. In 2020, the government went the extra mile by publicizing local and foreign fishing license contracts on the Seychelles Fishing Authority's website. [7] This move allowed the general public to monitor, evaluate, and question the government’s Blue Economy policy and management strategy. [8] International organizations like the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA) used this data to inform their investigations on the sustainability of the fishing agreement between Seychelles and the Taiwan Deep-Sea Tuna Longline Boat Owners and Exporters Association (TTA) and Top Fortune International (TFI). [9] Continued publication of FiTI reports will provide further opportunities for non-governmental stakeholders both within the FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Group (NSMG) and the general public to access sectoral governance information. This will inform public debate to contribute to sustainable marine governance.

This commitment builds on Seychelles’ fisheries transparency efforts thus far. Its pathway begins with the government renewing its pledge to disclose data on marine governance (Milestone 1). [10] Availing resources to support these publications shows the willingness of the government to nurture a culture of transparency through information dissemination. The lead implementing agency representative (Mr. Philippe Michaud), Point of Contact (Ms. Margaret Pillay), and Transparency Initiative Seychelles (Mr. Chrystold Chetty) concur with this assertion. [11] They noted that FiTI is an important area for the highest political and administrative authorities.

Although Milestone 1 focuses on making previously sealed data open access online, the implementors can also provide easily understandable information beyond statistics and expert jargon. This widens avenues for inclusivity as people from all walks of life can independently engage with the FiTI reports without third-person assistance. To maximize the success of Milestone 1, the Blue Economy Department (FiTI Secretariat) is encouraged to invest in nationwide broadcasting of the annual FiTI reports, building on previous efforts to disseminate FiTI reports and handouts on the importance of sectoral transparency to small-scale fishermen. It can take a step beyond uploading the reports on social media and government websites.

Publicizing marine data could lead to an informed, data-driven society that relies on factual evidence. Milestone 1 seeks to provide verifiable and credible sources that citizens can use to counteract false narratives or corroborate publicly circulating information. Similarly, FiTI requires annual reports to provide “a succinct summary of key information on the status of the country’s fisheries, clearly communicate recommendations made by the National Multi-Stakeholder Group (NSMG) and establish the credibility of public information on the fisheries sector.” [12]

Milestone 2 promises to introduce avenues for public participation in fisheries policymaking. Historically, the government has managed the fisheries sector without input from the public or those working in the sector. Implementation could bring these voices into fisheries policymaking and introduce a sense of mutual partnership in marine governance. According to several interview sources, [13] public disengagement and apathy are major constraints to civic participation in Seychelles. Therefore, changes such as high turnout, vigorous meeting discussions, and overall public understanding of the FiTI Secretariat and the NMSG are all possible evidence of strong early results that these participation mechanisms are facilitating the goal of enabling the public to influence government policy and action.

The FiTI Secretariat aims to invite various stakeholders, including formerly marginalized, dormant, and even outspoken groups, to participate in decision-making. [14] These stakeholders are expected to be equal players whose input will be used to inform sustainable policymaking. This could open platforms for liaisons between administrative political elites and the grassroots fishing industry. Mr. Phillippe Michaud (Blue Economy Department/FiTI Secretariat) pointed out that most stakeholders often limit their interaction with the government to financial incentives and relief aid. To alleviate this predicament, the implementors could design consultative platforms to also empower stakeholders to demand more services such as health insurance and retirement benefits. Implementors are encouraged to regularly raise awareness about these information channels to ensure sufficient stakeholder engagement. This strategy could potentially invigorate public interest in civic participation.

Milestone 3 seeks to formalize the FiTI Secretariat and NMSG, which promises to institutionalize transparency and participation in the fisheries sector. Establishing FiTI as a formal, legal, but independent entity can help ensure that government and non-governmental entities comply with the directives of the FiTI standards. Without formalized structures, various stakeholders could perceive the FiTI Secretariat and NMSG as a “toothless bulldog.” For instance, during interviews, the representative from the implementing agency (Mr. Phillippe Michaud) mentioned several problems that are beyond their scope as a non-institutionalized organization. Examples include the lack of updated records and illicit fishing of endangered species or overfished species like octopuses. These shortcomings can partially be resolved by institutionalizing the FiTI Secretariat Institutionalizing FiTI is a notable step in transforming fisheries' transparency, accountability, and inclusivity into a norm. It allows for continuity in the event of regime or administrative change.

Opportunities, challenges, and recommendations during implementation

The commitment has substantial potential to shape open governance policy in Seychelles. The strategic advantage of FiTI as a policy area is that it deals with an activity of economic, social, and cultural significance to the government and the citizens. [15] Thus, strengthening marine governance yields mutual benefits for both parties, which can increase cooperation. Nevertheless, implementors are encouraged to pay attention to the following:

· Milestone 1: It is recommended that implementors consider accessibility as an indicator of successful implementation at the end of the milestone. Implementors are recommended to make FiTI reports accessible to everyone, including those highly educated and those with limited formal education, as well as those in both the high-income fishery and in low-income, small-scale fishing sectors. This can be done by ensuring FiTI reports are available in Seychellois Creole and in accessible, plain language formats. The government could also organize regular media briefings, including when new important data is published. These reports could be fundamental in leading investor decision-making by including verifiable information on laws and practices in the fisheries sector. The government can also benefit by using these documents to draft new policies or amend existing ones.

· Milestone 2: This milestone can reach its full potential if more stakeholders are represented during public consultations and policy development, such as commercial fisheries, informal fishermen, researchers, experts, and ordinary citizens. The interview with Mr. Michaud (Blue Economy Department/FiTI Secretariat) revealed that Seychelles lack official records for determining the ratio of informal and formal fisheries and also emphasized that stakeholders lack interest in registering with the government bodies. [16] Thus, it is possible that fishermen also distance themselves from CSOs and unions. The FiTI Secretariat could collaborate with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) to build a catalogue for documenting formal and informal fisheries as well as leverage its independence from the government to build trust with stakeholders and guarantee data protection and confidentiality. The FiTI Secretariat can also work with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy and the SFA to allocate resources to public consultations to ensure that they are sustainably institutionalized in marine governance in the Seychelles.

· Milestone 3: Despite Mr. Michaud’s confirmation that “FiTI cannot be a government body,” information from several interview sources shows that FiTI has very strong support from the highest political level, like the active participation of the Vice President. [17] This represents opportunities and threats to establishing open government standards in Seychelles. From a positive angle, persistent lobbying and demonstrated success from Milestones 1 and 2 have potential to result in FiTI and NSMG framework changes. The goal to institutionalize within the stipulated time frame can be achievable, if this cooperation is maintained. On the other hand, implementors are advised to be on the lookout for the over-politicization of the FiTI agenda. It is recommended that a balance between the government performing its duties and politicians acting to boost their political mileage be maintained.