Make a SWOT Analysis of the Ministry Of Fisheries.

Introduction Mauritius has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.9 million km2 extending from the coasts of the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, St Brandon (Cargados Carajos Shoals), Algalega, Tromelin and Chagos Archipelago. The EEZ has a reasonable stock of various fish, including pelagic and demersal species. Fisheries resources exploited include the island-based artisanal fisheries, the offshore demersal fishery of the banks of the Mascarene Plateau and the Chagos Archipelago, and the tuna fishery in the Western Indian Ocean. Administration and Institutions Responsibility for fisheries matters in Mauritius lies with the Ministry of Fisheries and Rodrigues. Its Fisheries Division is responsible for research and collection of statistics, and has assumed responsibility for management and policy advice, as well as development of nearshore and offshore fisheries and aquaculture. Since 1982, the research arm of the Ministry has been housed at Albion Fisheries Research Centre. In 2004, a Fisheries Training and Extension Centre (FiTEC) was constructed at Pointe aux Sables to provide training to fishers, with the support of funds from the Government of Japan. FiTEC has its primary objective to enhance knowledge and skills of fishers to operate in the outer lagoon fishery, ensure safety at sea and create awareness of fisheries management and marine conversation. The Fisheries Protection Service with a staff of 264 officers, is responsible for the enforcement of all fisheries law and regulations. All fisheries are managed on the basis of Fisheries and Marine Resources Act (FMRA). Main Fish Resources
A. Strengths

Mauritius has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.9 Million square kilometres. The potential of this vast EEZ is yet to be determined. The main exploited fishing zones are the lagoons and banks. A fish Aggregating Device fishery has been set in place and fishers are encouraged to relocate to this fishery where prospects are better that the lagoon fishery. The tuna fishery in the south western Indian Ocean caters for purse seiners and long liners. Marine Fisheries: Artisanal fishermen target reef species like rabbit fish, goatish, mullets, emperors, surgeonfish and octopus. These resources are considered to be fully exploited or even over-fished. Inland Fisheries: Mauritius has no inland fishery as such, however, the water bodies and reservoirs harbours species of tilapia and black bass. These are usually fished by amateur fishermen. Aquaculture: Aquaculture development faces certain constraints such as competition from imported products, high feed costs and limited appropriate space and freshwater. The Government is promoting mariculture and in this context, the Mahebourg fish farm started operations in 2002 and fish production in 2005 totalled 374 tonnes, mainly sold
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on the local market and for export. The main species cultured is the red drum and the sea bream. Deepsea demersal fishery: It has been known for a few years now that a fishery for deep sea demersal fishes has developed in the Southern Indian Ocean targeting deep sea species. Five trawlers of different nationalities transshipped a total of 4,395 tonnes of deep-sea demersal fishes such as alfonsino, cardinal, orange roughly, blue nose, spiky dory, smooth dory, butter fish, boar fish, and black dory. B. Weaknesses One of the main weaknesses regarding the fish resources is that the main tuna stocks are not found in Mauritian waters. This type of fish is fished by foreign longliners which transship their catch in Port-Louis Secondly, some regional stocks, e.g. yellow fin, big-eye and swordfish are already heavily exploited. Moreover, most fishers operate in the lagoon areas inside the fringing reef, using hook and line basket traps and beach seines. Reef fish, particularly groupers, mullet, parrotfish and goatfish are targeted. Due to the over exploitation of the lagoons, the artisanal catches are decreasing day by day. The Fisheries Department has a limited research capacity for its 1.9 million square kilometers of economic zone and hence the stock of fishes available is not known. C. Opportunities The potential of the vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.9 million square kilometres is as yet unexplored, as it is mainly the lagoons and banks that are exploited for fish. At present, the government of Mauritius, jointly with the private sector, is determined to develop the economy around the concept of a seafood hub. Actually, only eighteen Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) are being used around Mauritius and three around Rodrigues. Additional FADs can be placed in new areas\departments. Aquaculture can be intensified in lagoons and shallow bank areas. Actually, Government is promoting mariculture and in this context a fish farm started operations at Mahebourg in the year 2002. D. Threats There can be a depletion of fish in the lagoons as most artisanal fishermen fish heavily in those areas. It is observed that fish catch in the lagoons has been decreasing steadily over the years. Another threatof the fisheries sector is the pollution of the lagoons by using poisonous substances, spears or explosives for fishing.
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Also, there are no limitations of fishing effort with respect to tuna due to uncertainty about the state of the resources.