Raphael Fishing Company

{{Short description|Mauritian fishing company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox company | logo = Logo-RFC-150.png | logo_caption = The Raphaël Fishing Company | logo_upright =  | logo_alt = | type = Public, multiple shareholders | industry = Sustainable Line Fishing | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1927|07|07}} in Port Louis, Mauritius | hq_location = Port Louis, Mauritius | hq_location_city = Port Louis [https://www.google.com/maps/place/20%C2%B009'48.6%22S+57%C2%B029'29.0%22E/@-20.1634971,57.4892084,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x984c950d7cd6769!8m2!3d-20.1635021!4d57.4913971 Praslin Street], Port Louis & Île Raphael | hq_location_country = Mauritius. | num_locations = 13 islands | area_served = Cargados Carajos Archipelago & Mauritius | products = Fishing and Fisheries | num_employees = 40 -60 | num_employees_year =  }}

The '''Raphaël Fishing Company Ltd''' is a Mauritian fishing company incorporated as Company C404 on 7th July 1927 in Port Louis, Mauritius.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |author1=Privy Council (United Kingdom) |date=30 July 2008 |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v The State of Mauritius and Another (Mauritius) |url=https://vlex.co.uk/vid/the-raphael-fishing-company-805328577 |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=Vlex |pages=Point 5 |language=English |ref=Appeal No 54 of 2006}}</ref> Company [https://www.stbrandon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Oldest-private-commercial-company-with-continuous-registration-on-the-official-Mauritius-company-register-whilst-retaining-same-name.pdf C404] is the oldest continuously registered commercial company in Mauritius on record.

The company is a fisheries company which is notable under common law for having set legal precedent in the conversion of its {{age|1901|10|02}}-year old unlimited jouissance (permanent lease/999-year lease) into a permanent grant<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v The State of Mauritius and Another (Mauritius) |url=https://vlex.co.uk/vid/the-raphael-fishing-company-805328577 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=vLex |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213103045/https://vlex.co.uk/vid/the-raphael-fishing-company-805328577 |url-status=live }}</ref> by the UK Privy Council in 2008<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008) |url=http://www.saflii.org/mu/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.saflii.org |archive-date=1 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001071953/http://www.saflii.org/mu/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html |url-status=live }}</ref> giving it title<ref>{{Cite web |last=dls |date=2021-09-29 |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v The State of Mauritius and Another: PC 30 Jul 2008 |url=https://swarb.co.uk/the-raphael-fishing-company-ltd-v-the-state-of-mauritius-and-another-pc-30-jul-2008/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=swarb.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref> to thirteen islands known as ''The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon'' in the Indian Ocean on the isolated archipelago of the Cargados Carajos shoals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.co.uk/vid/the-raphael-fishing-company-805328577|title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v The State of Mauritius and Another (Mauritius)|website=vLex}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-31 |title=Le bail permanent de Raphaël Fishing confirmé sur St.-Brandon |url=https://lexpress.mu/article/le-bail-permanent-de-rapha%C3%ABl-fishing-confirm%C3%A9-sur-st-brandon |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=lexpress.mu |language=fr |archive-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117051558/https://lexpress.mu/article/le-bail-permanent-de-rapha%C3%ABl-fishing-confirm%C3%A9-sur-st-brandon |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Fishing operations == Raphael Fishing Company has resident fishermen and fishing stations on the Cargados Carajos shoals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=St Brandon: 11 – 21 Nov 2019 |url=https://www.flycastaway.com/wp-content/uploads/extuploads/FCA_St_Brandons_brochure.pdf |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Brandon |url=https://www.voyagesdepeche.com/toute-l-actualite-de-voyages-de-peche/saint-brandon.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |quote=''but the Mauritian company Raphaël Fishing, which manages the fishing activities in the archipelago and owns two small lodges to the South and the North (...)'' |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221045448/https://www.voyagesdepeche.com/toute-l-actualite-de-voyages-de-peche/saint-brandon.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The company provides support, victuals and infrastructure to sustain fishing and associated activities from fishing stations in St Brandon<ref>{{cite web |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008) Privy Council Appeal No 54 of 2006 |url=http://www.saflii.org/mu/cases/UKPC/2008/43.pdf |access-date=7 January 2023 |quote=The St Brandon Archipelago lies about 250 miles north of the main island of Mauritius. It consists of five groups of islands or islets, 22 altogether, with an aggregate land area no greater than about half a square mile and prone to substantial submersion in severe weather. Their practical utility lies in the fishing around them on the very extensive shallow bank covering some 900 square miles around them:see the Surveyor General's Report to the Colonial Secretary dated 1st June 1863, para. 4<. Most of the islands were in use as fishing stations by the early 19th century, though these stations suffered disastrous inundations in 1812 and again 1818: see the Limuria Book Part 2 Chap. VII, p.188}}</ref> and through offices in Port Louis.

Fishing operations are artisanal, being carried out by about forty fishermen in teams of two using hand lines in fibre glass pirogues. Nets are illegal in St Brandon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fisheries Act |url=https://blueconomy.govmu.org/Pages/Legislation/Fisheries-Act.aspx |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Blue Economy |page=34 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113172649/https://blueconomy.govmu.org/Pages/Legislation/Fisheries-Act.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

The company's primary ships in 2022 were MV Albatross and MV Fregate which were specially designed and commissioned in 2017 to transport fish, supplies and personnel between fishing stations in St. Brandon and Port Louis (a distance of approximately 469 km), where the fish is sold immediately upon arrival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ship ALBATROSS (Fishing) Registered in Mauritius - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 645476000, Call Sign 3B2164 |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4910643/mmsi:645476000/imo:0/vessel:ALBATROSS |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=MarineTraffic.com |language=en |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108152041/https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4910643/mmsi:645476000/imo:0/vessel:ALBATROSS |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ship FREGATE (Fishing) Registered in Mauritius - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 645475000, Call Sign 3B2163 |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:5033210/mmsi:645475000/imo:0/vessel:FREGATE |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=MarineTraffic.com |language=en |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108152042/https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:5033210/mmsi:645475000/imo:0/vessel:FREGATE |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History and permanent grant == The company is named for a Captain Raphaël,<ref>{{cite book |author1=Jean-Marie Chelin |title=Histoire Maritime de L'ile Maurice |isbn=9789994902316 |page=142 |chapter=30 August 1817 |quote=(...) et Le Lougre, Le Cheriby, Capitaine Raphael pour St Brandon}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Jean-Marie Chelin |title=Histoire Maritime de l'Ile Maurice 1816 -1817 |date=21 October 1817 |publisher=Imatech |location=port louis |page=163 |language=French |chapter=25 October 1817 |quote=Le Lougre le Cheriby, Capitaine Raphael, parti de St Brandon avec une cargaison de poisson sale}}</ref> who owned the lease to Île Raphaël and had installations on the corner of rue des Pamplemousses and rue Fanfaron in Port Louis. Captain Raphaël travelled regularly to Île Raphael, St Brandon from Port Louis and, on 17 May 1816<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chelin |first=Jean Marie |title=Histoire Maritime de L'Ile Maurice 1816 & 1817 Marine et Commerce |publisher=Jean Marie Chelin |year=2016 |isbn=9789994902316 |location=Tamarin |publication-date=17 May 1817 |page=107 |language=Fr}}</ref> and November 1817,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chelin |first=Jean-Marie |title=Histoire Maritime de l'Ile Maurice 1816 et 1917 |publisher=Jean-Marie Chelin |year=2016 |isbn=9789994902316 |location=Mauritius |pages=169 |language=French}}</ref> is on record as bringing back salted fish<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chelin |first=Jean Marie |title=Histoire Maritime de L'isle Maurice (1816 & 1817) Marine et Commerce |publisher=Jean Marie Chelin |year=2016 |isbn=9789994902316 |location=Tamarin, Mauritius |page=174 |language=French |chapter=1817 |quote=''Poisson salé de St. Brandon à 6 piastres la livre le cent. S'adresser chez Mr. Raphael, rue des Pamplemousses au coin de celle du Fanfaron''}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rougaille poisson salé |url=https://www.ebox.mu/daily/recipe/rougaille-poisson-sale.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=eBox |language=en}}</ref> on a Lugger called 'Le Cheriby'.

In 1928, the Raphael Fishing Company Ltd., purchased the rights and interests of St Brandon Fish & Manure Co. Ltd., under the 11 October 1901 deed, after it had gone into liquidation, from Mr. Ulcoq who had bought them from the liquidator in 1925. The sale to M. Ulcoq and the subsequent sale to Raphael Fishing Co. Ltd., were duly approved by the state.

On 11 August 1995, court proceedings were started by The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd., against a Mr Talbot who purported to own six islands and the Iles Boisées. The proceedings were against M. Talbot with the State of Mauritius as a co-defendant.

On 30 May 2005, the legal proceedings by Raphael Fishing Company Ltd., appeared to have come to an unsuccessful end in Mauritian Courts which refused the Raphael Fishing Co. Ltd., leave to appeal to the UK Privy Council.

On 27 July 2006, the UK Privy Council (which has the power to do this under the Mauritian Constitution) intervened to grant the Raphael Fishing Company Ltd., leave to appeal.

On 30 July 2008, in keeping with the Constitution of Mauritius,<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2018 |title=THE CONSTITUTION of the REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS |url=https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/Documents/Legislations/constitution.pdf |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Mauritius Parliament |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813014058/https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/Documents/Legislations/constitution.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rendered its verdict<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008) |url=https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.bailii.org}}</ref> as follows: "For the reasons given in the above judgment the Board will allow this appeal, set aside the orders made in the courts below and declare that [the Raphael Fishing Co. Ltd.,] is the holder of a Permanent Grant of the islands mentioned in the 1901 Deed (...) subject to the conditions therein referred to".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008) |url=http://www.saflii.org/mu/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.saflii.org |quote=LORD SCOTT OF FOSCOTE : For the reasons given in the above judgment the Board will allow this appeal, set aside the orders made in the courts below and declare that the appellant is the holder of a permanent grant of the islands mentioned in the 1901 Deed (transcribed in Vol TB25 No 342) subject to the conditions therein referred to; order the removal from the Register maintained by the Conservator of Mortgages in Mauritius of all relevant entries concerning the Deed of Sale transcribed in Vol 3131 No 52; and grant a perpetual injunction restraining M. Talbot, his agents, servants or employees from interfering with the appellant’s possession of the islands mentioned in the 1901 Deed. |ref=71 |archive-date=1 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001071953/http://www.saflii.org/mu/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008) |url=https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.bailii.org}}</ref> This effectively transferred ownership of the thirteen islands to the company.

These conditions were:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privy Council Appeal No 54 of 2006; JUDGMENT OF THE LORDS OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL Delivered the 30th July 2008. Paragraph 37|url=https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html|access-date=2024-04-06|website=www.bailii.org}}</ref> *The Company must export all the guano it finds and pay the Government a royalty of 5 rupees per ton of Guano exported. *The company, in addition, must pay the Government an annual sum of one rupee, *All the produce of the islands must be sent to Mauritius.

==References== {{reflist}} * {{cite book |last=Macmillan |first=Allister |year=1914 |title=Mauritius Illustrated |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_EusZwEdxpAC&q=Dornal+de+Guy |publisher=W.H.& L. Collingridge |isbn=9788120615083}} * {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Stephen |year=2008 |title=Storm & Conquest: The Battle for the Indian Ocean, 1809 |publisher=Faber & Faber |isbn=978-0-571-22467-8}} * {{cite book |last=Woodman |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Woodman |year=2001 |title=The Sea Warriors |publisher=Constable Publishers |isbn=1-84119-183-3}} * {{cite book |title=Batailles navales de la France |last=Troude |first=Onésime-Joachim |author-link=Onésime-Joachim Troude |year=1867 |publisher=Challamel ainé |pages=160–162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zfFrDVTkcpsC |volume=4}}

Category:Fishing areas of the Indian Ocean Category:Atolls of the Indian Ocean Category:Companies of Mauritius Mauritius Mauritius Category:Companies based in Port Louis