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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Develop a marine spatial plan for Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone

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    Description
    Description
    The Seychelles Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Initiative is a process focused on planning for and management of the sustainable and long-term use and health of the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ encompasses 1,374,000 km2 of ocean and 115 islands. The MSP Initiative is a Government-led process, with planning and facilitation managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and TNC Canada in partnership with Government of Seychelles UNDP GEF Programme Coordinating Unit (PCU). Funding for the MSP is being provided to Government of Seychelles and The Nature Conservancy through a number of private grants, and the MSP is connected to the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust, SeyCCAT.

    Seychelles is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean, and the MSP is a significant commitment by Seychelles to reaching SDG Goal 14 and its components. The Seychelles MSP began in 2014 and will be completed in 2020.The MSP Initiative is an integrated, multi-sector process that is using an ecosystem-based framework to improve ocean management in Seychelles and address three main objectives: expand marine protected areas from 0.04 percent to 30 percent of the EEZ (from 550 km to 400,000 km2), to develop the Blue Economy, and to address climate change adaptation. The process includes input from all major sectors including commercial fishing, tourism and marine charters, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, port authority, maritime safety, and non-renewable resources in order to develop a comprehensive marine plan and zoning design for existing and future uses of the ocean in Seychelles. The MSP will be implemented and be regulatory upon completion by developing a new Seychelles MSP Policy, an implementation plan, governance and legal frameworks supported by management plans, legislation and regulations.

    The marine spatial plan aims to improve vital parts of life in the Seychellescare of marine resources for conservation and sustainable uses; integrated decision-making for development and permitting; security for local livelihoods; and planning for future generations.
    Partners
    Office of the Vice-President (government), Department of Blue Economy (government), Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (government), Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (government), Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine (government), Seychelles Fishing Authority (government), Seychelles National Park Authority (government), Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (government), Seychelles Coast Guard (government), PetroSeychelles (government), Island Development Corporation (government), The Nature Conservancy (NGO partner), TNC Canada (NGO partner), Government of Seychelles - United Nations Development Programme - Global Environment Facility (government NGO), and many others.
    Quantify
    By 2020, Seychelles will complete an integrated marine spatial plan to expand marine protected areas to 30% of the EEZ, address climate change adaptation and support development of the Blue Economy.

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
    14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
    14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    14.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
    14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
    Phase 2: 200,000 km2 of marine protected areas in High Biodiversity and Medium Biodiversity - Sustainable Use Zones, plus remaining EEZ in Multiple Use Economic Zones
    Seychelles National Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Policy and Legislation
    Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) Implementation Plan and Governance Arrangements
    Phase 1: 200,000 km2 of marine protected areas identified for High Biodiversity and Medium Biodiversity - Sustainable Use Zones
    In-kind contribution
    $400,000 per year financing from The Nature Conservancy
    Staff / Technical expertise
    MSP Executive Committee (16 members); MSP Steering Committee (22 members); Technical Working Groups (40+ members); government staff; NGOs, marine sectors
    Other, please specify
    Partnership and synergies with ongoing GOS-UNDP-GEF, World Bank projects, EU projects, and others
    Staff / Technical expertise
    The Nature Conservancy staff and consultants
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    False
    Action Network
    Small Island Developing States
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    Timeline
    01 February 2014 (start date)
    01 December 2020 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Mont Fleuri, Mah, Seychelles
    Ocean Basins
    Indian Ocean
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution, Ocean acidification, Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology, Implementation of international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
    More information
    Countries
    Seychelles
    Seychelles
    Contact Information

    Alain de Comarmond, Principal Secretary Environment