Protect 30% of Seychelles marine and coastal waters more than 400,000 square kilometers of improved protection and ocean management.

In 2010, the Government of Seychelles made a commitment to protect 30% of its 1.37 million square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea in marine protected areas (MPAs) more than 400,000 square kilometers. The declaration of expanding marine protection from the existing 0.04% to 30% was in part due to negotiations for a debt-for-climate-adaptation swap (see Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust SeyCCAT) and concerns about sustainable management of the marine resources in Seychelles. Identifying the new marine protected areas was initiated in 2011 by a Government of Seychelles UNDP GEF project to analyse existing marine protected areas and develop multiple scenarios for expansion using scientific experts, local knowledge, and stakeholder consultations. The GOS-UNDP-GEF project ran until 2015 and collected and analysed spatial data from more than 100 biodiversity features, 15 socio-economic layers and additional expert information that identify regionally important areas (e.g., BirdLife Important Bird Areas and WIOMER). Six scenarios were developed and Marxan was used to identify the preferred scenario for expanding MPAs with a target representation of 30% (10-60%) for marine species and habitats, by area.

In 2013, discussions on marine protection in Seychelles turned to developing a multi-objective marine spatial plan to support the expansion of the MPAs and also site new economic development, address spatial conflicts, advance the Blue Economy and address climate change adaptation. The Seychelles Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Initiative was started in 2014 and will be completed in 2020. The Seychelles MSP is a Government-led process, with planning and facilitation managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and TNC Canada in partnership with GOS-UNDP-GEF; the MSP is connected to the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust, SeyCCAT. The Seychelles MSP has undertaken more than 25 stakeholder consultations, 50 one-to-one consultations and 7 public workshops to discuss the location of proposed areas for new MPAs. A zoning framework has been designed that creates two new biodiversity zones (Zone 1: high biodiversity; Zone 2: medium biodiversity and sustainable uses), plus allowable activities are being discussed for each of the new marine protection areas to ensure compatibility with zone and area objectives. In 2016, the Seychelles MSP undertook a rapid Marxan with Zones analysis using deep seafloor geomorphology, 87 biodiversity features and spatial layers for fisheries, tourism, shipping and other economic uses to identify the best locations for three zones using three scenarios (biodiversity bias, Blue Economy bias, economic bias), and check representation against 30% area targets.

The MPA expansion discussions include 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 identify MPAs within a comprehensive marine plan and zoning design process - marine spatial planninng. The MSP will implement the new marine protected areas through existing and new legislation and regulations including for Protected Areas, Fisheries, and sustainable uses. The Seychelles Protected Area Policy is providing guidance for identifying and implementing new protected areas. Other considerations for implementation include monitoring and enforcement for illegal fishing, piracy, and activities not allowed (as specified by management plans).