Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

​​​​​​​​​​​​.

Fishermen Welfare Fund​​


​​​
​​
The Fishermen Welfare Fund is a Corporate Body under the aegis of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping.

It was created by the Fishermen Welfare Fund Act No. 28 of 2000​ and started its activities in May 2001.

It is managed by a Board of 10 members including the chairperson. 4 members are from fishers associations which include 
a representative of Rodrigues fishermen.  
 

1. Vision

The Fund exists to promote the betterment of registered fishers and their families of both Mauritius and Rodrigues. ​


2. Mission

The Fund promotes a high quality and cost-effective service to fisher’s community.

 

3. Objectives

The objectives of the fund as per the Fishermen Welfare Fund Act 2000 are: -

 

  • to advance and promote the welfare of registered fishermen and their families,
  • to manage and optimise the financial and other resources of the Fund to further the social and economic welfare of fishermen,
  • to develop schemes and projects for the welfare of registered fishermen,
  • to set up schemes, including schemes in respect of loan and other financial assistance, for the benefit of registered fishermen, who should make contribution under the relevant section of the Fishermen Welfare Fund,
  • to do all such things as appear to be necessary and conducive to the promotion of the welfare of registered fishermen in general,​

 

5. Activities/Services provided Vision

a)       Scholarship Award Ceremony

         Every year, the Fund awards Scholarships to fishermen’s children who out perform at examinations in both Rodrigues and Mauritius.

 

      The Scholarship Scheme was first introduced in 1991 by the Government.  The aim behind was to provide assistance to children of fishermen with good academic aptitude to emerge and to eradicate poverty in the fisher’s community.

 

       The Scheme was managed by the then Ministry of Fisheries and later passed over to the Fishermen Welfare Fund upon its enactment. Following the introduction of 9 Years Basic Continuous Education, the Scholarship Scheme was revisited.

 

        At present, a total of 168 Scholarships are available. The Scholarship Scheme is devised in such a manner that no children of fishermen are laid off of any Educational Streams.

 

Details are as follows: -


Categories

Revised Stipends

Scholarship per category

Details

Duration

MRU

BNK

ROD

Total

Monthly (Rs)

Yearly   (Rs)

Post PSAC – NS

Academic - Normal Stream               

(Grade 7 to 9)

3 years

27

4

10

41

500

6,000

Post PSAC - ES

Extended Stream

4 years

9

2

4

15

500

6,000

Post NCE

Grade 10 to 11

2 years

36

6

14

56

500

6,000

Pos​t SC

Grade 12 to 13

2 years

15

4

6

25

1,000

12,000

Post HSC

Diploma, Degree and Professional Qualification

Up to 4 years

7

2

5

14

2,000

24,000

Vocational

NC 2 - 3 or equivalent

Duration of Course

3

1

1

5

500

6,000

Vocational or Polytechnic

NC 4 - 5 and/or equivalent

Duration of Course

2

1

1

4

1,000

12,000

Vocational or Polytechnic

NC 6 and/or Onwards or equivalent

Duration of Course

1

1

1

3

2,000

24,000

Post Graduation

Post graduate course

Up to 2 years

2

1

2

5

2,500

30,000

Total

168


 

To date, several children of fishermen have benefited from the Scholarship Scheme of the Fund.


Click: to view Application for Scholarship Scheme

 

b)       Financial Assistance for Fishermen Family in Distress

         An amount of Rs 15,000/= is granted to the family of fishermen lost at sea in three installments of Rs. 5,000/= to cater for ​the basic need of the family. If the body is recovered the whole amount is paid once. Besides, their cases are referred to the Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions for social aid and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare for counseling purposes and additional assistance.

 

c)       Financial Assistance for Accidentally Damaged Boats

         At present an amount of Rs 10,000/= is provided to a fisherman whose fishing boat is accidentally damaged at sea during work.

         This assistance is provided so that the fisher can resume work at its earliest.

 

d)       Sick Allowance

        A registered fisherman is eligible to a financial assistance of Sickness Allowance whenever he is hospitalized for a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 14 days. The hospitalisation for chronic disease which requires the fisher for regular hospitalisation is excluded for the consideration of sickness allowance.

      Besides, the fisherman’s case is referred to the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National for consideration for social aid. The present daily rate for Sickness Allowance is Rs. 650/=.

 

e)       Winter Allowance

         The Fund also manages a Contributory Scheme for the Bank Fishermen. The mechanism of the scheme is that the Fishermen Welfare Fund, the Fishing Operators and the Bank Fishermen each contribute Rs.2,000/= per fisher yearly to the scheme.  Then, the Fishermen Welfare Fund pays the total sum to the Bank Fishermen in three equal installments during the month of July, August and September as Winter Allowance. This Scheme is conditional on contribution made by eligible fishers.

 

f)       Maternity Allowance

        The Fund manages a Maternity Allowance Scheme under which it grants a one-off maternity allowance to a registered fisherwoman who has given birth to a child. The allowance meets the basic needs of the family and contributes towards the health of the mother and the child. The quantum is Rs. 30,000/= payable at once.

 

g)       Funeral Grant

        This payment aims to assist the family members of the deceased fisher to meet the expenditure for the funeral of the demise fisher and to give the family time to    adjust to the new situation.

          The quantum is Rs.5,000/= paid one-off.   

 

h)       Hardship Scheme

         Under this Scheme a registered fisherman is given a one-off financial assistance of Rs. 10,000/- when he has suffered loss following natural calamities, outbreak of fire, when the fisher is seriously injured or has to attend private hospital for urgent surgery.

 

i)        Computer Scheme

        The Scheme has been introduced in Financial Year 2023-2024 under which the Fishermen Welfare Fund provides a financial assistance of Rs. 15,000/- to each Post HSC scholars for the purchase of a computer which will help them to follow courses on zoom and preparation of their dissertation.

 

i)        Organisation of Events

          The Fund every year organises a minimum of two events.

-World Fisheries Day- A Wreath Laying Ceremony and Inter-Religious prayers on 21st November each year at the public beach of Le Morne village in memory of fishers who have disappeared at sea during their work.

-A Scholarship Award- Ceremony for selected scholars.

Contact:

 

Secretary:






Phone No:
Fax No:
Website:
Email:  

Mr. T. Boodia

Fisherment Welfare Fund​

Ground Floor,

Wing A, LIC Centre,

President John Kennedy Street

Port Louis​


(230) 214-3294​
(230) 214-3319
http://blueconomy.govmu.org
fisherwelfare@govmu.org



​​

Fishermen Welfare Fund Annual Report for year ended June 2022

Fishermen Welfare Fund Audit Report 2018
Fishermen Welfare Fund Annual Report for the year ended J​​​une 2021



Fishermen Welfare Fund Annual Report for the year ended June 2020


Fishermen Welfare Fund Annual Report for the year ended June 2019



Fishermen Welfare Fund Annual Report for the year ended June 2018



​​Updated on 09 May 2023




​​