The catch from purse seiners has remained relatively stable over the years, from 300 000 – 350,000 tonnes of tuna caught in waters in the South-West Indian Ocean (including 15% in the Seychelles EEZ). Approximately 85% of the tuna catch from purse seiners in the Indian Ocean is transshipped in Port Victoria. About 30% or around 90 000 tonnes is being landed for processing by the local tuna cannery, the Indian Ocean Tuna factory (formerly called, the Seychelles Tuna Canning Factory). The Indian Ocean Tuna factory is the largest employer in Seychelles. In 1995, the Seychelles government privatized the “Seychelles Tuna Canning Factory”. 60% was purchased by the American food company, Heinz. In early 2006, the cannery was taken over by a group headed by the American financial institution, Lehmann Brothers.

About CASAMAR SEYCHELLES: Casamar
Seychelles was established in in 1988. It was one of the pioneering foreign-owned private enterprises in Seychelles. CASAMAR maintains a netyard close to the cannery and is expanding to a larger netyard facility at the reclaimed area across its current location. CASAMAR Seychelles specializes in NET REPAIR and NEW NET CONSTRUCTION. CASAMAR provides 24-hour services to tuna vessels that call on the Port of Victoria. Over the years, it has developed expertise in tuna net designs specifically for the Indian Ocean. CASAMAR SEYCHELLES has a branch in Mauritius so that it can deliver products to vessels that go to Mauritius.