Seychelles represented at Marine Regions Forum |11 November 2023
The Seychelles delegation
A ten-member delegation from Seychelles attended the Marine Regions Forum in the Western Indian Ocean held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from November 7 to 9, 2023.
The event was organised in partnership with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and its partners and co-hosted by Tanzania and Seychelles under the theme ‘Navigating Ocean Sustainability in the Western Indian Ocean and beyond’.
The meeting brought together around 180 delegates from more than 20 countries, with a special focus on countries of the Western Indian Ocean region.
Delegates included marine experts, policy makers, government institutions and NGOs working with sustainable marine issues.
The primary objectives of the Marine Regions Forum encompass strengthening regional ocean governance, bridging the gap between knowledge and policy, promoting collaborative solutions to challenges impacting ocean sustainability, and fostering a global network to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds, harnessing their efforts and skills to ensure the future of our oceans.
Over the course of the three-day meeting, discussions revolved around four key themes namely tackling the triple planetary crisis, fostering a sustainable blue economy, implementing global goals at the regional level and regional ocean governance.
The 2023 Marine Regions Forum provides an invaluable opportunity for informal exchanges among scientists, policymakers, and leading stakeholders. All participants share a common goal: to drive the transformation of ocean governance through regional actions and initiatives.
The Seychelles delegation was led by principal secretary for the department of Environment, Denis Matatiken, who in his opening remarks emphasised the need for the continuous collaboration within the region as a key element in addressing the many issues threatening the oceans today. This call for collaboration was also emphasised by other speakers in their opening remarks.
Other members of the delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Blue Economy department, Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, Seychelles Fishing Authority, department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land and Housing, department of Land Transport, Nature Seychelles and Seychelles Islands Foundation.