Seychelles’ Balancing Act: Transforming Fisheries to Preserve Biodiversity
Despite its modest landmass of just 457 square km, Seychelles’ ocean spans 1.37m square km—a territory equivalent to half the land area of Argentina. The abundant ocean not only defines the national identity but also serves as the bedrock of its economy, which rests on the twin pillars of tourism and fisheries.
While historically tourism has been the main source of income for Seychelles contributing 31% of GDP and accounting for 41% of exports, the country is banking on the sustainable development of its fisheries to mitigate tourism-related vulnerability to external shocks—a hard lesson learned from the covid-19 pandemic. But, like many island states, Seychelles faces a dilemma: how can it harness the economic potential of fisheries without depleting its natural resources? And the answer lies in a strategic investment in biodiversity.
