In 2012, at the Rio+20 Summit, the Government of Seychelles announced its ambitious goal to protect 30% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), positioning the country as a global leader in marine conservation. To turn this vision into a reality, the Government of Seychelles entered into extensive negotiations with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), culminating in an innovative debt-for-nature swap agreement with domestic creditors.
This landmark agreement successfully secured US$21.6 million in funding to facilitate the buyback in sovereign debt at a discount, ensuring the long-term protection and sustainable management of Seychelles’ vast marine territory. The initiative not only safeguards vital marine ecosystems and biodiversity but also strengthens Seychelles’ resilience against climate change and supports the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Minister Jean-Paul Adam who played a pivotal role, at the time, in negotiating the landmark debt buyback agreement with the Paris Club commented:
“This agreement marks a historic achievement for Seychelles. By combining conservation goals with innovative financing, we are demonstrating that small island nations can play a powerful role in global environmental leadership. We are proud to set an example for how debt restructuring can be linked to meaningful, lasting environmental outcomes.”
As a result, the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) Initiative was launched in 2014, with strong support and facilitation from The Nature Conservancy. It subsequently underwent one of Seychelles’ most extensive and comprehensive stakeholder engagement processes, involving a total of 265 meetings, consultations, workshops, and deliberations through which the zone and area boundaries were identified and agreed. This process was further supported by over 100 GIS-mapped data layers, which provided valuable insights into marine ecosystems, uses, and activities.
The SMSP area has been divided into three zones.
Zone 1 is the most highly protected area in terms of biodiversity, it being a no-take zone, where no extractive activities are permitted.
Zone 2 is categorised as a medium biodiversity protection area, allowing certain activities and resource utilization under specific conditions.
Zone 3 (67.4% of the national and EEZ waters) encompasses areas where activities are allowed as per existing legislation.
Stakeholders have continuously worked to improve and refine the allowable and conditional activities within these zones.
Photo Credit: Christoph Geisler (UNSPLASH)
In August 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an interim governance arrangement to facilitate the implementation of the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan. This approval marked a critical step in the nation’s commitment to sustainable marine resource management. As part of this arrangement, an interim governance structure was established under the Department of Environment, within the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the SMSP. This dedicated governance body ensures that the complex process of planning, managing, and monitoring the marine environment is carried out efficiently and in alignment with national and international conservation goals.
To support the effective execution of this governance structure, the arrangement is being funded by the Blue Nature Alliance, with funding administered through the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT). This funding plays a vital role in ensuring the continued progress of the SMSP, which is key to safeguarding Seychelles’ marine ecosystems, promoting sustainable use of marine resources, and supporting the country’s broader environmental and climate change objectives.
The process has now been completed. On the 31st of March the SMSP was formally signed into law through the promulgation of the Nature Reserves and Conservancy (Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan) Regulations, 2025 (S.I. 18 of 2025). This marked a significant milestone, ensuring that the provisions outlined in the SMSP are now legally binding and will guide future actions and compliance.
On 15 May, Cabinet approved the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) as required under the Nature Reserves and Conservancy (Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan) Regulations, S.I. 18 of 2025. This marks the final step in fulfilling the country’s commitment to protect 30% of its marine territory and operationalise the plan under law, in line with the 2016 debt conversion agreement for ocean conservation.
Stakeholders are encouraged to review the new requirements and make the necessary preparations for implementation in accordance with the new legal framework.
Source: Press Release, Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment & statehouse.gov.sc
Top photo: Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan Logo (SMSP)