Bycatch Trade in Mauritius: Big Money and Murky Practices

Every time a commercial fishing vessel hauls in its nets, it catches more than it bargained for. Alongside the target species — tuna, for instance — come dozens of other marine creatures caught unintentionally. This is known as "bycatch," and in Mauritius, trading this incidental catch has become a quietly lucrative business operating in the shadows of the formal fishing industry. **What is bycatch?** Bycatch refers to any non-target species accidentally caught during fishing operations. It can include smaller fish, sharks, rays, turtles, and even dolphins. In many countries, regulations require fishermen to discard or report bycatch. In practice, however, much of it enters commercial trade — and Mauritius is no exception. **A profitable grey market** In Mauritius, bycatch collected from industrial fishing vessels — particularly those operating in the Indian Ocean under foreign flags and docking at Port Louis — finds its way onto local markets and into the supply chains of fish traders and processors. The value of this trade is significant. Because bycatch is not the primary target of these vessels, it is often sold cheaply in bulk, giving traders a high-margin product at low cost. Local fish vendors and intermediaries who purchase this catch can then sell it at standard retail prices, pocketing the difference. For some operators, it is a side business that generates substantial income with minimal overhead. **The zones of shadow** The problem lies in oversight — or the lack of it. The traceability of bycatch is weak. It is not always clear what species are being landed, in what quantities, or whether protected species are slipping through. Mauritius has obligations under international fisheries agreements, including those governed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which require member states to monitor and report bycatch data accurately. Critics argue that the current system allows for significant under-reporting. When bycatch is not properly logged, it distorts stock assessments, undermines conservation efforts, and can mask the illegal landing of protected or overexploited species. The Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping is the primary regulatory authority for fisheries in Mauritius, but enforcement capacity — particularly at the port level — has long been a concern among conservation advocates. **Who is affected?** The issue touches multiple stakeholders: artisanal fishermen who compete with industrial vessels; consumers who may unknowingly buy fish caught unsustainably; conservationists working to protect threatened marine species; and Mauritius's international reputation as a responsible maritime nation — especially relevant given ongoing negotiations around the Chagos archipelago and its vast exclusive economic zone. **What this means** For everyday consumers in Mauritius, it means the fish you buy at the market may have entered the supply chain through channels that are poorly documented and lightly regulated. For policymakers, it is a call to strengthen port-level inspections, improve species-level catch reporting, and ensure that Mauritius meets its international fisheries commitments. For the fishing industry, greater transparency could ultimately protect the long-term viability of Indian Ocean fish stocks that the sector depends on. Source: Le Defi Media