Africa-Press – Mauritius. Twelve beneficiaries under the Canotte Scheme received, yesterday, their cheques for the purchase of canottes during a handing-over ceremony held in Port Louis, in the presence of the Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr Sudheer Maudhoo, and the Managing Director of the Development Bank of Mauritius, Mr Jaywant Pandoo.
Under the Canotte scheme, which is jointly implemented with the DBM, financial assistance is provided to the fishermen community to enable them to purchase better equipped boats, namely canottes, to be used as a tool to enhance their livelihood and to encourage fishermen to fish off-lagoon.
The scheme is being implemented under the Fisheries Sectoral Programme of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of Mauritius.
Canottes are better equipped boats designed for fishing in the outer lagoon. Under the scheme, a registered fisherman is eligible to a grant representing 50% of the cost of a canotte and engine up to a maximum of Rs 200,000.
The fisherman can finance the other 50% on his own or contract a loan of Rs 200,000 at an interest rate of 3% per annum from the DBM. The funds are disbursed directly to the boat builder, who has to be listed at the Ministry.
In his address, Minister Maudhoo underlined that Government recognises the contribution of fishermen in the economic development of the country. To that end, he stated that a series of measures and facilities have been put in place to sustain their activities and boost the local fisheries sector.
A sum of Rs 29 million, he said, has been allocated in the budget 2022-2023 under the Canotte scheme including Rs 4 million for fishermen of Rodrigues.
In addition, fishermen are benefiting from Rs 575 under the Bad Weather Allowance, he indicated. The Minister spoke of the importance of reducing reliance on imports and optimising the country’s resources.
“It is essential to valorise the works and contributions of the fishermen community as they have a key role in promoting food security”, he stated.
He thus appealed to the fishermen community to take advantage of the different schemes put at their disposal and to report any acts of illegal fishing to the National Coast Guard and the Fisheries Protection Service.
For his part, Mr Pandoo indicated that since its creation the DBM has provided assistance to the agro-industry and the fisheries sector adding that till date some Rs 700 million has been put at the disposal of local fishermen.
He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, some 360 fishermen availed the interest free loan schemes of the DBM amounting to some Rs 36 million.
As regards the Canotte scheme, he stated that it will enable fishermen to make acquisition of canottes that are in compliance with safety standards so that they can fish outside the lagoon. He reiterated that the DBM will continue to support local fishermen through various schemes and loans.
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