Posts of the day

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 scientific operations on the Saya de Malha Bank, Francis Marsac, IRD representative in the Seychelles, fisherman and oceanographer, gives an initial assessment of operations carried out in the field. It’s been an intense three weeks, and there’s been a lot of satisfaction on the spot, including on a human level, with a lot more to come.

Young Seychellois entrepreneur Mariette Dine tells us how the Monaco Explorations mission in the Indian Ocean is helping her to develop her professional activities. She is developing a project on the use of algae to manufacture bio-plastics.

Frédéric Ménard, an IRD researcher specializing in marine ecosystems, gives an initial assessment of operations at Saya de Malha. The particular situation of this shoal, which is the size of Switzerland, as well as its specific characteristics, make it an exciting study site for scientists. Saya de Malha raises both interest and questions.

Florence Galletti is a member of the IRD, specializing in the Law of the Sea. She takes stock of current developments in this field. More than ever, the Law of the Sea is essential for organizing 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 sufficiently good state to remain capable of being exploited.

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.

François Simard, secretary of the Indian Ocean Mission’s Steering Committee, takes stock of the governance challenges facing Saya de Malha. This immense bank, located more than 300 km from the first submerged land and the size of Switzerland, is subject to unique governance, the result of the complexity of the Law of the Sea.

Reporter, author, film-maker and columnist Stéphane Dugast joined the Indian Ocean mission to the Seychelles with photographer Nicolas Mathys, in Aldabra to accompany the Prince’s delegation. Impressions of an adventurer, this former “Peking”, ex-reporter for Cols Bleus, the newspaper of the French Navy.

Dr Brendan Quinn, the ship’s doctor, tells us about his career. He talks about his job and the benefits of this exploration mission. This young doctor’s view of an often demanding profession is full of maturity and perspective.