NEWS ARCHIVE
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MPAs need people and resources
By Nirmal Shah A new preprint (not peer-reviewed yet) led by some great researchers says that fewer than 100,000 full-time workers are responsible for about 36 million square kilometres of MPAs, roughly one worker for every 370 square kilometres. On…
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Education Is Economic Strategy: What Seychelles Can Learn from China’s University Revolution
Nirmal Shah Seychelles has just concluded its first Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, a 3 day initiative that brought together local and international experts to discuss the country’s future. As expected, digitisation, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies dominated the agenda.…
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Great Blue Wall report showcases five years of impact on ocean regeneration across the Western Indian Ocean
Mombasa, Kenya, 17 June 2026 — At the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) today, the Great Blue Wall unveiled its first Impact Report (2021–2025). The release comes five years after the launch of an ambitious vision to regenerate ocean ecosystems and…
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State ofCoastal and MarineNature-Based Tourismin the Western IndianOcean (WIO) Region
This a pioneering regional report on nature-based tourism in the Western Indian Ocean led by the African Leadership University School of Wildlife Conservation with funding from WIOMSA SCALABLE project grant. Despite coastal and marine tourism acting as a cornerstone of…
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Mauritius criminalises ecocide
Source: Ecocide International Mauritius has become the latest country to introduce a domestic crime of ecocide. Classified by the United Nations as a Small Island Developing State, it faces significant environmental risks, including sea level rise and pressure on marine…
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The Ocean’s Unsung Engineers: Why Sea Cucumbers are in Deep Trouble
By Dr Nirmal Shah They may be the “ugly ducklings” of the sea, but sea cucumbers are the unsung heroes of our marine world. Far from being mere lumps on the ocean floor, these fascinating creatures are essential ecosystem engineers.…
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The Promise of a Sustainable BLUE Economy
At dawn, he pushes his boat past the surf, where the sea smells of diesel, salt, and yesterday’s rain. His phone is wrapped in plastic, yet it still flashes a weather alert: warmer water, stronger storms. On shore, officials call…
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As the World Shifts, Small Islands Build New Partnerships.
In a world marked by geopolitical tension, paucity of Western aid, climate change, and emerging centres of influence, small island states are not passive observers. They are actively forging partnerships that enhance resilience, security, and opportunity. The evolving relationship between…
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From Flame to Framework: Tackling IUU Fishing in the Western Indian Ocean
On the horizon of the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in early 2026, the sky was blackened not by a storm, but by the thick plumes of a burning trawler. The intentional destruction of the “Eshini Duwa”—a Sri Lankan vessel…
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Smart, Resilient Investments Key to Jobs and Growth in Seychelles, New World Bank Group Report Finds
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2026— Seychelles has built one of Africa’s strongest economic success stories, and a new report outlines how decisive, resilient, and smart investments and reforms, particularly in tourism, fisheries, energy, infrastructure, and skill building can sustain these gains,…