Seychelles Blue Economy: Strategic Policy Framework and Roadmap. Charting the future (2018-2030)

This Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Policy Framework and Roadmap comprises an integrated approach to ocean-based sustainable development which brings together economy, environment and society, consistent with the Sustainable Development Agenda, Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, in order to facilitate the articulation of spatial planning and innovative financing, suggest more detailed proposals for activities in key focus areas, provide for Seychelles’ national development, and build on the country's laws and policies. Concerning the overall vision, the Roadmap defines the Blue Economy as a pathway for developing an ocean-based economy through innovation and knowledge-led approaches, while conserving the integrity of the marine environment for present and future generations. This Blue Economy Policy Framework and Roadmap is built on seven overarching principles: 1) economic efficiency, focused on promoting the productive use of marine resources and improvement of competitiveness; 2) sustainable use of healthy oceans; 3) social equity and food security, in order to ensure shared benefits and improve nutrition, employment and livelihoods; 4) accountability and transparency, in order to promote good governance and participatory decision-making; 5) resilience, focused on building capacity to withstand climate, economic and environmental shocks; 6) innovation, with the transition from a commodity economy to a knowledge-based economy; 7) strengthening national, regional and international partnerships.
The Roadmap identifies four strategic priorities: 1) creating sustainable wealth and economic growth, while protecting marine resources. This priority includes the following actions: diversification of the economy; increasing value addition in fisheries; development of mariculture; exploring biotechnology; improvement of renewable energy and oil and gas extraction; modernisation of maritime industries; strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship; 2) sharing Blue Economy benefits across these sectors: food security, through reduction the dependence on imported food, improvement of local agriculture and fisheries, promotion of aquaponics and innovative farming; education and skills, through: strengthening marine education, development of technical and vocational training, building capacity in marine science and management, retaining skilled workers and engage the diaspora; private sector development, through support of Small and Medium enterprises, improving ease of doing business and expanding access to finance; 3) securing healthy, resilient and productive oceans, focusing on: valuation of marine ecosystem services, conservation of marine biodiversity, climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable financing for protected areas, ocean research and ecosystem-based management, marine environmental monitoring; 4) strengthening the enabling environment and creating institutions, improving and governance necessary for implementation of Blue Economy through marine spatial plans, combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, innovative funding instruments, such as blue bonds, improvement of port infrastructure and maritime transport.