The Government of Seychelles has committed to host the International Secretariat of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), starting April 2019.
Designed to increase transparency and participation for a more sustainable management of marine fisheries, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative which sets clear requirements of what is expected from countries regarding transparency on the management of the marine fisheries sector and the activities of fishers and fishing companies.
“Transparency is a prerequisite for informed public debates on fisheries policies and for achieving meaningful participation in fisheries decision-making,” said Vincent Meriton, vice president of the Republic of Seychelles.
Global reach
While several countries globally have started to implement the FiTI, permanent headquarters are needed to achieve a global level playing field of transparency, Meriton stressed as he spoke at the 5th Our Ocean Conference in Bali.
The vice president encouraged other countries to join the FiTI and called upon the international donor community to support the initiative.
Meriton also highlighted the successful issue of the world’s first sovereign blue bond to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.
He further emphasised that public and private financial resources are crucial in supporting the blue economy, but weak governance, and in particular the lack of transparency, is a key barrier in unlocking financial resources.
The FiTI is currently hosted by the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA Governance Platform, a not-for-profit organization in Berlin. The Government of the Seychelles is working with the FiTI International Secretariat to support the transition from Berlin to Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles.
