History
From its beginnings in Port Victoria to becoming a trusted inspection partner across international ports, SOCOMEP’s journey is built on expertise, precision, and a commitment to quality.
Creation of SOCOMEP
1990
As the industrial tuna fishery in Seychelles began experiencing rapid growth, Mr. Jacquelin Lablache founded the Société de Contrôle d’Expertise Maritime et Pêche (SOCOMEP). At the time, the company’s main activity was inspecting the quantity and quality of tuna landed in Seychelles, on behalf of a French fishing company.
SOCOMEP Labatory
1994
As international hygiene standards and client requirements became more stringent, fishing companies required reliable testing to ensure their catch was safe for consumption. In 1994, SOCOMEP introduced its first fish testing services to support these needs.
Stuffing Monitoring
2012
In 2012, containers began to emerge as an increasingly convenient alternative for tuna transhipment and discharge operations. This development created new opportunities for SOCOMEP to expand its services by providing stuffing monitoring for the main shipping lines operating in Seychelles.
ISO Certification
2014
With the objective of guaranteeing customer satisfaction and consistently delivering high-quality services, SOCOMEP applied for ISO system certification. In October 2014, the company successfully achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification.
SOCOMEP Mascareigne
2016
With service requests in the fishing port of Mauritius becoming increasingly frequent, SOCOMEP expanded its operations in 2016 by establishing SOCOMEP Mascareigne and appointing staff to support activities in the region.
Traceability Surveys
2017
As the industry placed greater emphasis on sustainable fishing practices, SOCOMEP introduced traceability surveys in 2017 for declared FAD-free and MSC-eligible tuna, supporting responsible sourcing and transparency within the tuna supply chain.
ISO 9001:2015 Certification
2017
To ensure continued compliance and maintain an effective Quality Management System, SOCOMEP transitioned to the updated ISO 9001:2015 standard in October 2017.
ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation
2023
On 29 November 2023, SOCOMEP was awarded ISO 17025 accreditation by SADCAS, formally recognising it's laboratory as meeting internationally recognised testing standards.
ISO/IEC 17020 Accreditation
2025
On 16 December 2025, SOCOMEP was awarded ISO 17020 accreditation by SADCAS, formally recognising it's a inspection body.