Background

Environmental awareness is a key issue in determining the successful protection and management of marine ecosystems and their associated creatures. Our oceans consist of some of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems. Increasing knowledge and understanding of marine creatures, ecosystems, their value and fragility can motivate people to actively partake in marine conservation. It is important to focus heavily on undertaking marine education within schools as improving their knowledge and awareness can lead to improved marine conservation now and in the future.

The Seychelles is a country of outstanding natural beauty both above and below the water.  It is however a country dependant on its natural marine resources which like so many places they are becoming depleded. This marine education and awareness project started in Seychelles during 2010 following successful school visits and educational talks in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Maldives.  The proposed work of this project during 2011-2012 will be to provided marine education for all the schools within the Seychelles and spread marine awareness throughout the country.

Aims and Objectives

The general aim of this project is to help conserve the marine environment of The Seychelles. To achieve this, the objectives are to:

• Use marine education to build awareness of the marine environment, its plight and the concept of conservation
• Use marine education to build awareness of coral reefs, specifically, and help towards the reduction of coral damage from anthropogenic impacts
• Use marine education to renew the public’s feeling of ownership for their natural marine resources
• To collectively achieve the objectives described marine education is being provided to all the schools within the Seychelles through a specially designed schools programme.

Additionally marine education and awareness is provided through different forms of media, various organised activites and presentations at numerous venues for everyone.