The
Albion Fisheries Research Centre
The
Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC) was established in 1981/1982 with the
assistance of the Government of Japan under a Grant Aid Project and it is operational since June 1982, under the aegis of the Ministry of
Fisheries.
The
AFRC is the technical arm of the Fisheries Division of Ministry of Blue Economy,
Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping carries out applied research,
development and management activities. The infrastructure has been gradually
expanded over the years so as to cope with the increasing diversity of projects
being implemented. In 1982, the AFRC had a total floor area of
1300m2 comprising administrative, laboratory, and machine/workshop
blocks and a hatchery. In 1987, a marine shrimp culture experimental station
was added to it comprising a shrimp hatchery, laboratory block and
ponds.
The
AFRC was further extended in December 1995 to house a conference hall and
laboratory facilities for marine ecology, marine chemistry, marine bacteriology
and physical oceanography.
The
facilities at the Albion Fisheries Research Centre now cover a total surface
area of 3,410m² which include an office/administration block, laboratories,
hatcheries and a documentation Unit. The Centre has a staff strength of 88
officers consisting of the scientific and technical grade supported by
administrative staff and manual workers.
To
ensure continued economic growth, social development within the framework of
good governance, the Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and
Shipping has established eight divisions, five of which are based at AFRC. These
divisions relate to Aquaculture, Marine Conservation, Marine Science, Marine
Resources and Laboratories.
The
setting up of the Fisheries Monitoring Centre at AFRC in February 2005 has
improved the monitoring of fishing vessels in the EEZ of Mauritius through a
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). It monitors fishing activities of local and
foreign licensed vessels as part of a coherent management strategy to improve
the sustainable exploitation of resources to reduce illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mauritian EEZ. The VMS is linked with two
workstations at the National Coast Guard Headquarters at Port Louis and the
Maritime Air Squadron at Plaisance.
The
basic objectives of the Albion Fisheries Research Centre are:
·carry
out research and studies needed for sustainable development and management of
marine living resources (fish stocks, coral reef etc.);
·provide
support services to stakeholders of the fishing industry (including those
involved in aquaculture development);
·provide
advice to policy makers on matters related to the management and development of
living marine resources and the conservation of marine environment including the
creation of marine parks and reserves in accordance with the provisions of the
Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 2007 and the Environmental Protection Act;
and
·carry
out collaborative research and management as regard regional and international
fisheries and marine living resources.
·carry
out stock enhancement through marine ranching.
Main
activities of Albion Fisheries Research Centre
The
main activities that are carried out by the Centre are summarised as
follows:
· monitoring
of existing fishing activities (including fishing vessels) and fish stock
assessment (artisanal, banks and tuna) in order to evolve management measures
for their sustainable development;
· surveys
and charting for new or untapped resources or fishing grounds, development of
appropriate fishing techniques and provision of advise on exploitation and
management of these resources;
· collaborative
research/studies with regional, international organisations such as the Indian
Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) for the management of tuna stocks in the Indian
Ocean, the Indian Ocean Commission (COI) in fisheries and marine ecosystem
monitoring studies and other foreign institutions;
· development
and improvement of aquaculture production techniques. Seed production of sea
breams is being improved for stock enhancement. Red tilapia and sea bream
fingerlings are produced for distribution to fish farmers;
· ecological
surveys to monitor and collect baseline data on coral reefs and water quality
for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the marine
environment;
· management
of marine protected areas. Two marine parks have been proclaimed namely at
Balaclava and Blue Bay;
· enhancement
of fish stocks and rehabilitation of ecosystems such as the release of juveniles
in the lagoon and mangroves propagation in the coastal zones;
· screening
of potentially toxic fishes and harmful microalgae;
· coral
farming for the rehabilitation of the coral reef.
Contact
details:
Assistant
Director Fisheries
Albion
Fisheries Research Centre
Ministry
of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping
Albion
Petite
Rivière
MAURITIUS
Tel.:
+(230) 238 4100
+(230)
238 4829
+(230)
238 4744
Fax:
+(230) 238 4184
Email:
fisheries@govmu.org
