(Posted 04th October 2026)
Courtesy of Mr. Nirmal Jivan Shah / LinkedIn
A paper written by the brilliant Seychellois scientist Ameer Ebrahim, PhD and co-authors, shows how declining spiny lobster stocks (Panulirus species) and fishery closures have reshaped Seychelles’ iconic spiny lobster market. Drawing on stakeholder interviews, the study identifies growing import dependence, lost livelihoods and persistent illegal fishing.
Between 2021 and 2023, import volumes rose by 105% while legal local catches fell by 46%; 96.6% of surveyed establishments relied on imports. Researchers estimate 90 net job losses and an economic multiplier 39% lower for imports than for locally caught spiny lobster.
Estimated maximum sustainable yield on the Mahé Plateau, a shallow underwater bank surrounding Seychelles’ main granitic islands and providing fishing grounds for the country’s small scale fishers, is 3.5 tonnes annually, about 8.3% of estimated demand. This means sustainable local fishing cannot meet existing market demand. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing accounts for an estimated 9.8% of market volume.
Although 76% of stakeholders support traceability, implementation requires stronger institutions and affordable measures proportionate to the fishery’s value. The authors propose a three-phase policy framework integrating traceability with harvest management.
The consequence for Seychelles is clear: imports keep lobster on hotel menus, while local fishers lose income and illegal harvesting continues. Closures must therefore be backed by credible enforcement, checks on spiny lobster sold to businesses and practical support for affected fishers. Otherwise, Seychelles risks sacrificing local livelihoods without securing lasting recovery.
For the world’s small island developing states, the wider lesson is that where stocks cannot recover to former levels, policy must help communities adapt, while ensuring viable livelihoods and sharing the costs and benefits fairly.
Dr Ameer Ebrahim
