The Seychelles MSP Policy is necessary for implementation of the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan.  The policy was drafted with engagement and contributions from the SMSP committees. Two workshops were held for input and review of draft versions in Oct and Dec 2017, with the drafting of the SMSP Policy completed in Dec 2017.  The draft Policy was sent for international peer-review to global MSP policy experts in Feb 2020 then SMSP stakeholder consultations were held in Aug 2020 to discuss revisions and finalise text. The finalised Seychelles MSP Policy was presented to and endorsed by Cabinet on 23 Sept 2020 and is available on the SMSP website. Paper copies are available by contacting the SMSP team. This is the first MSP policy for Seychelles and the first approved MSP policy in the Western Indian Ocean. 

The Seychelles MSP policy has been developed to: 

• Address comprehensive marine environmental management of Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea.
• Meet the commitments and milestones set in the Seychelles debt swap loan agreement. 
• Take on-board the Seychelles’ international commitments while taking into consideration modern developments in Protected Area management, blue economy and sustainable development.
• Meet and surpass the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi target of 10% marine protection by 2020. 
• Facilitate integrated governance between Ministries. 
• Meet and surpass the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 10% marine protect by 2020. 
• Address the need to review and synergize management priorities in the country.  
• Integrate national biodiversity goals and the Blue Economy in order to ensure a resilient ocean, support healthy, local fisheries and sustainable development of a globally-significant marine tourism sector.