Papers 9: Annex 6.16

Environment and development
in coastal regions and in small islands

Coastal region and small island papers 9

Annex 6.16
Seychelles perspective on wise coastal practices

Prepared by Mr Rolph Payet
Revision date: 14^th November 2000

Background

The Republic of Seychelles consists of 115 islands scattered over an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 million km² in the Western Indian Ocean. The Seychelles group consists of granitic and coral islands, which are highly vulnerable to sea level rise, as the majority of economic activities are located on the coastal plains. In 1998, per capita gross domestic product stood at US$ 6,837, an increase of US$ 536 from 1996.

Principal and immediate coastal-related issues

Key threats to coastal habitats include urbanization, increased tourism and industrial development, over-exploitation of coastal resources, coastal degradation and erosion, marine pollution and sewage disposal.

On a global scale, the 1998 abnormally high sea surface temperatures affected coral reefs in the entire Indian Ocean, with the most severe impacts within the Seychelles. Although recovery is expected in the long term (20 years), the resulting breakdown of the reef structure may significantly reduce fish productivity and affect coastal stability leading to increased erosion. Socio-economic impacts include direct losses of tourism income, fish productivity and coastal erosion. Increased human activities will further pressure these stressed habitats.

Ecological stability therefore needs to be ensured by improving the management of coastal activities, sustainable use of coastal resources, and protection of critical and stressed habitats. Ecosystems and coastal integrity are also threatened by the impacts of mass coral bleaching resulting from warming of the ocean, sea-level rise, propagation of ecotoxic marine organisms and diseases. There is insufficient data to determine the ability of a reef to withstand a sea-level rise of 20–40 cm over the next 50 years. Lack of knowledge of the natural and ‘inbuilt’ resilience of coastal ecosystems precludes conclusions about their ability to continue to deliver the same functions after being severely stressed or affected by direct and in-direct human impacts.

The intensity of development and urbanization, as well as the diversity and fragility of the coastal habitats emphasizes the need for workable and robust national and regional mechanisms to be put in place to ensure sustainable coastal development and resource use within this vulnerable island group. The implementation of integrated coastal management (ICM) should not only seek to provide more sustainable use of available resources, but to provide a framework for improving coastal environment quality, taking into consideration issues of global change and increasing population pressure. The lack of harmonized policies, approaches and enforcement mechanisms to ensure sustainable ICM will also need to be critically addressed.

Significant programmes and projects

There have been several programmes to address these problems.

Land-use planning
With the introduction of geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing data, plans to make full use of geographical information have just been initiated. There is inadequate land-use planning, with many areas undergoing development without proper land-use plans. The new Environmental Management Plan for Seychelles (EMPS), 2000–2010, outlines some of these issues. A Coastal Management and Land-use Programme has yet to attract any external support.

Coastal tourism
The components of the EMPS, prepared under the Tourism and Aesthetics Programme and the Coastal Zone Programme, identify the key coastal tourism priorities. With increased demands being placed by the industry, there is an urgent need to address specific issues concerning sustainable tourism development. A research project will be submitted to the Western Indian Ocean Marine Scientists Association (WIOMSA) for consideration under its new marine research grant programme to address the issue of sustainable coastal tourism.

Management of coastal resources
The Seychelles Fishing Authority manages two shell reserves, collects fishery statistics and manages some threatened resources such as lobsters. The EMPS emphasizes and proposes activities to support coastal resource management; however, these have not yet been scheduled for implementation.

Coastal erosion
Coastal erosion issues have been addressed by a Programme of the Indian Ocean Commission, with support from the Réunion University. The initial work indicates the need for a beach management programme, especially for those beaches currently utilized by tourism and those experiencing human-induced stress. Several workshops have been held involving a wide group of stakeholders. The project ended in early 2000. The EMPS also refers to several specific coastal erosion issues, and discussions are now being held on the best way forward.

Solid and liquid waste management
During the previous EMPS, 1990–2000, the Solid Waste Management and Wastewater Management programmes were implemented and will continue to be implemented through joint government-private investment in the new EMPS (2000–2010). The new Victoria and Beau Vallon Sewage Treatment project will treat most of the sewage discharges from the most urbanized parts of the country. The involvement of the European Union is expected to support these initiatives financially as well.

Significant gaps in ongoing and planned activities

There are many ways in which existing programmes can be enhanced, especially through technical assistance in the form of skills training, e.g. in GIS and remote sensing, and management approaches. While ICM in the Seychelles has benefited from substantial overseas funding in the last decade, few of these initiatives have been integrated into the country’s programmes. Significant gaps include:

major institutional issues: (i) no specific ICM body, although plans exist for an ICM unit in the Ministry of Environment and Transport, (ii) legal inconsistencies with many very old laws and ineffective implementation, (iii) poor co-ordination among institutions, (iv) lack of ICM training opportunities, and (v) a need for mechanisms to fully involve non-government sectors in ICM;
lack of long-term monitoring data and accurate data analysis: there is a need for further training and ensuring data is available in electronic formats.

Scope for potential CSI activity

The main area where assistance is required, and which falls within CSI’s scope, is institutional strengthening and capacity building, specifically in the following areas:

land use planning and sustainable infra-structure development within coastal cities and communities;
sustainable coastal tourism, especially wise practices for the tourism industry and environmental impact assessment;
coastal resource assessment, valuation and management;
participatory approach to coastal policy development and implementation;
coastal indicators and approaches to cost-effective research and monitoring of the coastal environment.

Start		Introduction		Activities	Publications	Search
		Wise Practices	Regions		Themes