Team

Born and raised in Seychelles, Sarah grew up surrounded by the ocean’s rhythm, learning to swim before she could walk. It was an experience at an educational camp on D’Arros with Island School Seychelles when she was still a young teenager that determined the trajectory her life would take.

Snorkelling over one of the healthiest coral reefs she’d ever seen, Sarah felt a surge of awe and responsibility. That moment became her compass: to learn about and protect the ecological integrity of underwater habitats through science, education and advocacy. She went on to be a proactive participant in various environmental activities and educational initiatives, such as beach clean-ups and coral restoration projects. As a Blue Economy intern with SYAH (SIDS Youth AIMS Hub), she worked on Aride Island, dipping her toes in various projects such as bird censuses, turtle monitoring, and sampling and testing soil integrity.

True to her vision, Sarah pursued a BSc in marine biology and coastal ecology at the University of Plymouth, graduating with a thesis close to her heart. Using data provided by the Save Our Seas Foundation, she investigated the distribution of reef fish around D’Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll and discovered to what extent ocean warming events are detrimental to the richness and diversity of reef fish.

Now, with her degree in hand, she is poised to start her career in marine science, gain more experience in field work and increase her impact. She aims to merge research, policy and education, advocating for marine protected areas and finding possible solutions for more climate-resilient reefs. In the long term, Sarah would like to be involved in conservation programmes specific to Seychelles, equipping the next generation with the tools (and wonder) to safeguard their natural heritage.