Billets du jour

Dass Bissessur expresses in this post the feelings of the Mauritian scientific team at the end of the Monaco Indian Ocean Explorations mission; an exceptional opportunity to build capacity in the various disciplines of oceanography and to further explore the little known area of Saya de Malha.

Coordinator of the scientific operations on the Saya de Malha Bank, Francis Marsac, IRD representative in the Seychelles, fisherman and oceanographer, gives an initial assessment of the operations carried out in the field. Three intense weeks and a lot of satisfaction on the spot, including on a human level, with good extensions and results in prospect.

Mariette Dine, a young Seychellois entrepreneur, explains what the Monaco Explorations mission in the Indian Ocean has done for her in developing her professional activities. She is developing a project on the use of algae for the manufacture of bio-plastic.

Frédéric Ménard, a researcher at the IRD and a specialist in marine ecosystems, makes an initial assessment of the operations carried out at Saya de Malha. The particular situation of this bank as large as Switzerland, as well as its specific characteristics, make it an exciting study site for scientists. Saya de Malha raises interest and questions.

Florence Galletti is a member of the IRD, specialising in the Law of the Sea. She reviews current developments in this field. More than ever, the Law of the Sea is essential for organising the economic development of States and resolving inter-State conflicts over the oceans and seas. But it is also caught up with the need for instruments to preserve biological diversity that is in a good enough state to remain exploitable.

Dominique Benzaken, member of the Indian Ocean Expedition Advisory Committee, reports on the blue economy related to the Saya de Malha joint management area. Few countries have so far developed a national blue economy strategy, the Seychelles and Mauritius being among them. This type of strategy combines economic, social and environmental objectives, in line with the principles of sustainable development, and encompasses all maritime sectors.

Seeing the invisible island, or how the Saya de Malha bank plays hide and seek with the S.A. Agulhas II and the crew of the Indian Ocean expedition. The impressions and feelings of Didier Théron, Head of Outreach for Monaco Explorations, on these days devoted to the exploration of an unknown and mysterious environment by the teams of scientists on board.

François Simard, Secretary of the Indian Ocean Expedition Advisory Committee, reports on the governance issues of Saya de Malha. This immense bank, located more than 300 km from the first submerged land and as large as Switzerland, is subject to a unique governance, the result of the complexity of the Law of the Sea.

The reporter, author, director and columnist Stéphane Dugast joined the Indian Ocean expedition in the Seychelles with the photographer Nicolas Mathys, more precisely in Aldabra where he accompanied the H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco’s delegation. Impressions of an adventurer, this former “civvy”, ex-reporter for Cols Bleus, the newspaper of the French Navy.

Dr Brendan Quinn, the on board doctor, tells us about his journey. He talks about his job and what this exploration mission brings him. This young doctor’s view of an often demanding job is already full of maturity and perspective.