Nature Seychelles is one of the longest-standing members of the Global Ocean Forum, and we were among the representatives at the Ocean Policy Summit held in Lisbon, Portugal in October 2005. The summit brought together high-level officials, regional organisations, UN agencies, ocean policy
specialists, donors, non-government organisations and industry. Participants compared experience from around the world on the formulation and implementation of ocean policies, and best practice.
Nature Seychelles, represented by James Hardcastle, brought a regional Indian Ocean perspective, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) issues, and a civil society outlook. James made a presentation on national and regional implementation of Ocean Policy and progress on the Mauritius Strategy for SIDS.
Nature Seychelles was the only national NGO interest represented at the forum, while WWF, Conservation International and the Nature Conservancy lobbied on an international level. Participants included the EU Commissioner on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, and representatives from the French Prime Minister’s office, as well as senior officials from UN agencies and the World Bank. Nirmal Shah subsequently represented the Global Oceans Forum at the Small Island Developing States meeting hosted in Seychelles at the end of October 2005.
For more information on the Forum, see A summary report of The Ocean Policy Summit (TOPS)