AEF Sea Harvest (Pty) Limited

completed

March 29, 1996Environmental Review Summary (ERS)Project Name AEF-Seychelles: Sea Harvest Company (Pty) LtdRegion Sub-Saharan AfricaSector AgricultureProject No. 007396 1. This project involves the acquisition of four long line fishing vessels to operate in the Seychelles Archipelago fishing grounds, fishing for bigeye and yellowfin tuna and swordfish. The second hand vessels were bought in Holland and were recently refurbished in Reunion Island. Vessels will be equipped with state-of-the-industry equipment and all regulatory safety equipment. Vessels will be supported by shore facilities including an ice plant and cold rooms at Victoria harbor where the fish will be prepared for market. The fresh, chilled fish will be airfreighted to markets in Japan, Europe and neighboring Reunion. The company’s planned export of approximately 430 tons per year will contribute to the small but growing market for fresh chilled tuna and swordfish. Annual world catch of tuna is about 3 million tons and for swordfish is about 50,000 tons; delivery to the market is mainly in the form of frozen fish. Total project cost is estimated at US$2.33 million of which AEF would provide a loan of US$0.97 million.2. This is a category B project according to IFC''s environmental review procedure because specific impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this project consisted of appraising technical and environmental information submitted by the project sponsor, and the technical appraisal and site review completed by IFC’s Technical and Environment Department staff and a specialist consultant engaged by IFC. The following potential environmental, health and safety impacts of the project were analyzed:· sustainability of fish stocks and by-catch minimization;· solid and liquid wastes disposal (including bilge waste);· safety at sea (employee training and provision of safety equipment);· on board CFC-free cold storage;· provision of personal protective equipment;· general housekeeping and plant hygiene;· compliance with all applicable WMO and international maritime requirements, including fire protection;· fuel storage;· recycling\disposal of used motor fluids and oils; and· employee training and fire safety.The company’s environmental, health and safety management plan addresses these potential impacts, as summarized in the paragraphs that follow.3. Under the 1986 Fisheries Act in the Seychelles, policies have been defined to manage and govern the exploitation of the country’s marine resources. These have been enforced by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) with the assistance of the Coast Guard to ensure sustainable catch. Licenses are issued to longline operators, the number of which can be restricted by the Fishing Authority to limit total catch. Current estimates from the Indo Pacific Tuna Programme of the maximum sustainable yield for bigeye and yellowfin tuna in the western Indian Ocean are 40,000 tons and 300,000 tons, respectively. These stocks are not under undue stress or threat of over-exploitation. Swordfish fishery was initiated only recently in Seychelles and Reunion. The SFA has established the Swordfish Assessment Program to monitor and formulate management policies for this fishery.4. The longline fishing method developed in the Seychelles targets the specific species proposed for this project. Other species, mainly sailfish, kingfish, marlin, dorade, and shark, together make up about 10 percent of total catch, and are all of commercial value. Incidence of by-catch which requires disposal is minimal.5. On board the fishing vessels, fish will be gutted and headed at sea and, in accordance with industry practice, the waste will be mechanically ground to small particles before discharging to the sea. Bilge waste will be visually monitored for oil and other contaminants, and contaminated bilge water will be retained for onshore disposal. At shore, the processing waste in the plant will be limited to liquid effluent which will be discharged to the public sewerage system. According to the Ministry of Planning and the Environment, the public sewerage system has the capacity to adequately treat this effluent.6. Safety at sea will be ensured through employee training and provision of safety equipment. Sea Harvest has engaged a highly qualified French Captain to train the local skippers and fishing crew in longline fishing and vessel operations, including safety measures. Safety equipment, notably life jackets, life buoys, life raft (for 10 people) and first aid kits will be provided on each vessel.7. On board fish holds will be refrigerated in addition to the use of ice. The navigation room will also be air-conditioned. All onboard systems will be CFC-free. Onshore refrigeration equipment in the processing plant and the ice plant, as well as work area air-conditioning systems, will also be CFC-free.8. All workers will be provided with personal protective equipment appropriate to their tasks. Workers in the processing plant will be provided with protective clothing, including aprons, gloves, rubber boots and headgear. Cleanliness will be maintained at all times in the processing plant. Footwear of persons entering the processing area will be disinfected. Processing equipment as well as floors will be cleaned and disinfected daily. Workers will be trained in and required to follow proper general housekeeping and plant hygiene practices.9. Proposed rehabilitation of the existing vessels will restore them to a condition meeting certification requirements. The vessels will comply with all applicable WMO and international maritime requirements. Fire extinguishers will be provided on each vessel. Vessel maintenance will be strictly adhered to, as one of the sponsors also operates a local marine chandlery and maintenance company - Marine Equipment and Services (Pty) Ltd.10. Each vessel has onboard fuel and lubricant tanks of sufficient capacity for a complete cruise. Fueling and discharge/recycling of used motor oil and oily bilge water will be conducted at commercial facilities operated by Marine Engineering Services in Victoria. There will be no discharges of oil or oily wastes at sea.11. Fishing crews as well as workers in the fish processing plant will be trained on accident prevention and proper control and maintenance of equipment and plant facilities. The training will also cover the proper use of emergency equipment, use of personal protective equipment and procedures for emergency evacuation.12. Based on its review of available information regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, IFC concludes that the proposed project is being designed to meet Government of Seychelles requirements, and World Bank policies, and environmental, health and safety guidelines.13. IFC will monitor Sea Harvest’s ongoing compliance with World Bank policies and guidelines during the life of the project by evaluating monitoring reports submitted annually to IFC by the sponsor and by conducting periodic site reviews during project supervision.L:\WPEU\KITT\SHARVEST.ERSMarch 29, 1996 10:42 AM