Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise to conduct research in Seychelles |24 February 2021

The Artic Sunrise during one of its previous expeditions

Greenpeace International will be conducting scientific research in Seychelles in transit towards the Saya de Malha Bank in the Mascarene Plateau region between Seychelles and Mauritius from February 27 to March 30, 2021.

The vessel Arctic Sunrise will be in Port Victoria from February 27 to March 4, according to a communique received yesterday from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment.

The purpose of this research is to collect information about the biological diversity present at the Saya de Malha Bank, following the scientific expedition visiting unique sites in the international waters of the Atlantic Ocean, with the objective to contribute to knowledge of the value of such sites for conservation.

During the scientific expedition, Greenpeace International wishes to contribute to the knowledge base about biodiversity in the area through mapping the fish, shark and whale diversity of the area by means of environmental DNA sampling; surveying the seagrass meadows and coral reefs via photographic and video surveys; detecting and surveying the marine megafauna via passive acoustic monitoring, visual observations and photo identification.

Press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment