It takes sturdy sea legs, perfect timing and the precision of a drill to transplant corals. Not only do you need good weather conditions to seamlessly move a rope fully laden with corals to a transplantation site, but also the perfect mix of cement to ensure that corals hold to the reef when they are planted.

At the end of April, Cousin Island was privileged to receive Royal Society fellow, House of Lords peer and former Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, Professor Lord John Krebs and his wife Sarah Phibbs.

It was December in Canada when I heard help was needed on Cousin Island’s Special Reserve. I hadn’t even heard of the Seychelles but I packed my things and hopped on a plane without expectations. A few planes, trains and countries later, I landed in paradise.

The Seychelles island of Assumption(Source: SNA photo by J van de Crommenacker)

The Aldbara group including waters around Assumption island will be designated as protected areas by February 2019, under a process called the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) Initiative. Another area to also be protected is the Amirantes groups. The Aldabra Group and is being nominated for ‘Marine National Park’ and is described by the Marine Spatial Plan as a High Biodiversity Protection. (Source SNA). This area is now the target of bitter protests.