Absolute Seychelles 2019

Blue Economy Internship Programme

The Blue Economy is a developing world initiative pioneered by

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) aimed at changing mindsets

and behaviour of using the ocean as a means of free resource and

waste dumping - a mechanism for a more sustainable use of the

ocean. As well as endorsing the importance of the ocean towards a

country’s prosperity, it also encourages sustainable development

of conducting ocean based economic activity.

With youth unemployment rising across the world, SYAH

Seychelles is driving for young people to use new opportunities

such as the Blue Economy to promote sustainable development

opportunities by exposing them to existing frameworks and

organisations that fall under the Blue Economy remit. The

internship includes a 2 week placement in different organisation

followed by a fully funded trip to Mauritius provided that the

interns fulfil their deliverables. In Mauritius the interns learn

and exchange information about the developments of the ocean

economy within the region.With the exposure to different sectors

under the Blue Economy, the aim is that young people can then

assess where the gaps remain and how the would like to start an

enterprise to bridge the existing gaps.

Dive Against Debris

SYAH will soon be launching a new project called Dive Against

Debris which aims to allow participants to get their Open Water

PADI Certificate in order to Dive against Debris in the next two

years to reduce marine pollution in the ocean.

http://www.syah-seychelles.weebly.org

Seychelles Islands Foundation & the Aldabra

Clean Up Project (SIF)

The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) is a

non-profit charitable organisation that was

established as a public trust by the government

of Seychelles in 1979. SIF manages and

protects the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of

Aldabra Atoll and the Vallée de Mai and has the

President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, as Patron.

SIF is managed by a Board of Trustees of 15

members who are appointed by the President.

The foundation is mandated and dedicated

to ensuring that the World Heritage Sites of

Seychelles are well-managed protected areas

where conservation, research, education and

tourism are sustainably balanced. A major

focus is on scientific research to direct, support

and improve conservation management of the

unique biodiversity and ecosystems of these

two very different sites. SIF have undertaken

a myriad of projects such as the European

Union Invasive Alien Species Project aimed

at addressing the problem of invasive species

in the two world heritage sites in Seychelles,

Aldabra & the Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island;

the UNESCO funded eradication of introduced

birds on Aldabra which was successfully

completed in 2017.

The Aldabra Clean-Up Project

Plastic pollution is affecting the world’s second

largest coral atoll, the home of the largest

population of giant tortoises and a UNESCO

World Heritage Site; the majestic Aldabra.

The plastic pollution that has been washing

up on the shorelines of Aldabra for decades

now, blocks the paths of nesting green turtles,

entangles and is ingested by seabirds and

waders, and strangles marine mammals such as

dolphins and whales. Pieces of plastic from this

washed up debris are even increasingly found

in the droppings of (land-based) giant tortoises.

SIF is currently spearheading the first ever

‘Aldabra Clean-Up Project’ that unites six

Oxford Graduate student volunteers with six

Seychellois Volunteers, selected through a

national video competition. The project was

launched in the UK in May 2018 at the Royal

Society, and in Seychelles by the President

of Seychelles (SIF’s Patron) in June 2018.

The project is aimed at tackling the problem

of marine plastic pollution through action,

education and research. With the accumulation

of plastics on the coastline of Aldabra over

several decades the impact on Aldabra’s

wildlife has been noticeable and in recent

years that action had to be taken! The team of

12 volunteers removed waste from Aldabra’s

shores on a five-week expedition in March

2019, which was then be transported over

1000km to Mahé for proper processing.

Action

on Plastic

Pollution

ABSOLUTE

With youth unemployment

rising across the world, SYAH

Seychelles is driving for young

people to use new opportunities

such as the Blue Economy to

promote sustainable development

opportunities by exposing them

to existing frameworks and

organisations that fall under the

Blue Economy remit.