Saratha Naiken

Who I am

As a born citizen of the Republic of Seychelles, I can say that I have been fortunate enough to experience paradise at its finest. A place on the map that lies between latitudes 4° and 11°S and between longitudes 46° and 56°E, Seychelles is home to the most enchanting diversity of flora and fauna. As a child I was fascinated by wildlife and nature in general, but growing up I became even more intrigued and captivated by the life that exists below water. So much is known about what exists on land, yet more than 80% of the ocean is still unexplored.

Although I saw the ocean as a place of endless mysteries, I couldn’t help wondering about the reality that lies on the other side of the ocean’s story; the side that accounts for issues pertaining to climate change, loss of biodiversity, plastic pollution, illegal poaching, overfishing and so much more, and how these issues impact the future of the waters around Seychelles. My view of the ocean changed from it as a picture-perfect place of hope to it being a place of concern. With this insight, my commitment to protecting the wealth of our waters only strengthened and drove me to pursue a BSc in environmental sciences at the University of Seychelles.

Where I work

As my interest in the marine environment and blue economy began to grow, I became involved in many local NGOs working in this sphere and to date I have completed internship and volunteer programmes in eight organisations. I am also an active member of Seychelles Youth Action Hub and the Global Shapers Victoria Hub, youth-driven organisations that comprise a team of young leaders committed to creating meaningful community impact and truly inclusive and thriving communities.

I currently study in third year for my BSc in environmental sciences at the University of Seychelles.

What I do

In collaboration with the University of Seychelles and the Save Our Seas Foundation–D’Arros Research Centre, I will undertake undergraduate research to establish a comparative assessment of the condition and health of two carcharhinid shark species using a nursery site in St Joseph Atoll. This study should provide novel information about the factors affecting fitness and survival in these shark populations in a key habitat.