Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm zone) and Exclusive Economic Zone (combined): 1,351,726 km2
National practices
National projects
- GOS-UNDP-GEF:
- Strengthening Seychelles’ Protected Area System through NGO Management Modalities (PA Project)
- Expansion and Strengthening of the Protected Area Subsystem of the Outer Islands of Seychelles and its Integration into the broader land and seascape
- Protected Areas Finance project in Seychelles
- Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change in Seychelles
- National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Project (NBSAP Project)
- For additional GOS-UNDP-GEF projects relevant to MSP in the Seychelles, please click here
- UNDP-GEF Global Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)
- World Bank-GEF Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project (SWIOFish3 Project)
- Global Climate Alliance Seychelles Programme (GCAA+)
- The Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Strategic Action Programme Policy Harmonisation and Institutional Reforms (WIO LME SAPPHIRE)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Offshore renewable energy | Shipping |
| Ports | Oil and gas |
| Mining | Military |
| Fisheries | Nature conservation |
| Scientific research | Coastal protection |
| Cables and pipelines | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage | Radars |
| Dredging, dumping, disposal | Bunkering |
| Desalination | Reclamation |
| Hydrographic surveys | Maritime safety and security |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan |
Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change |
Financing |
Public and private funding provides financing for the SMSP |
Time required to complete the plans |
Six-seven years; still underway |
Drivers of MSP |
A 30% marine protection goal; advance climate change adaptation; and support the Blue Economy |
Stakeholder participation |
The SMSP is a public process involving more than 150 stakeholders organized by an approved governance framework: Executive Committee Steering Committee, Technical Working Groups, public information sessions, and bilateral discussions
Since 2014, there have been more than 200 workshops, meetings, and bilateral consultations |
Sectors included in planning |
In alphabetical order: biodiversity conservation; financing; fisheries; marine infrastructure; maritime security; tourism; recreation; non-renewable energy; renewable energy |
Relation to coastal management |
The ministries responsible for coastal management are members on the Executive Committee, Steering Committee and Technical Working Group The SMSP integrates information regarding current and future coastal development into proposals for new marine protections and the development of the plan |
Relation to marine protected area management |
The Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan Initiative will identify new marine protection areas that will cover 30% of the EEZ, or more than 410,000 km2 |
Plan approval |
The process for plan approval is as per the SMSP governance framework and includes support from the stakeholders, with decisions taken at the Executive Committee in order to advance to Cabinet level approval
All decisions taken are with recommendations from the other committee and stakeholder groups |
Legal status of the plan |
Planning is underway; once approved, the plan will be regulatory |
Plan revision |
Not yet determined; will be specified in the plan |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
Performance indicator for monitoring and evaluation are being developed during the planning process and will be finalized with the plan for implementation |
Legal framework
In place:
- National Park and Nature Conservancy Act (1969)
- Fisheries Act (2014)
- Protected Areas Act (2012)
- Environment Protection Act (2016)
- Maritime Zones Act (1999; 2012)
- Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act (1991)
- Harbour Act (1932)
- Petroleum Mining (Pollution and Control) Act (1976)
- Minerals Act (1962)
- Merchant Shipping Act (1992; 2012)
Under development:
- Fisheries Act (2014) – revision
- Nature Reserves and Conservancy Bill 2020 – draft (revision of the National Park and Nature Conservancy Act, 1969)
- Maritime Zones Act
Contact
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
Mr. Alain de Comarmond – Principal Secretary, Environment
Botanical Garden, Mont Fleuri
Victoria, Seychelles