What is the timeline to complete the Seychelles MSP?

Phase 1: Milestone 1
Launched in February 2014
Zoning design submitted in October 2017
The areas were gazetted in February 2018

Phase 2: Milestone 2
Launched in February 2018
Zoning design submitted in October 2018
The areas were gazetted in April 2019

Phase 2: Milestone 3
Launched in March 2019
Zoning design submitted in December 2019
The areas were gazetted in March 2020 – Milestone 3

Phase 2: From Zoning to Implementation
Launched in March 2020
Allowable Activities Tables for Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3
General and Area-based Management Considerations
Develop Implementation Plan

MSP Activities in 2022 included:

• Allowable Activities Tables
• Begin to operationalise the Seychelles Ocean Agency (SOA), with MACCE
• Mapping Ecosystem Services, Mapping Ocean Wealth (SWIOFish3, MACCE, with TNC)
• Management Plan Framework consultancies (SWIOFish3, MACCE, SeyCCAT)
• MSP Implementation steps  (MSP Core Team)
• Management Units – draft boundaries

MSP Activities in 2023 include:

• Finalise the Allowable Activities Tables
• Operationalise the Seychelles Ocean Agency (SOA)
• Identify the steps to sign the Marine Spatial Plan into law, with Attorney General’s Office
• Seychelles MSP legal road map, from AE Law, led by SeyCCAT
• Draft Management Plans for MSP marine protection areas – Zone 1 and Zone 2
• Begin draft co-management agreement template, with MACCE
• Filming for Seychelles documentary for the debt conversion, led by SeyCCAT

MSP Activities in 2024 include:

• Implementation Governance mechanism operationalised
• Costing analysis 2.0 for the MSP and marine protection areas
• Capacity gap assessment for the MSP and marine protection areas
• Approval FINAL version of Allowable Activity Tables and documents
• Steps to sign the Marine Spatial Plan into law
• Drafting of the Marine Spatial Plan document
• Approved 2024 High-level Workplan – click here

MSP Activities in 2025 include:

• Implementation Governance mechanism decision
• Capacity gap assessment for the MSP and marine protection areas
• Draft Marine Spatial Plan document
• Stakeholder and public review of complete draft Marine Spatial Plan
• Approval of Marine Spatial Plan
• Complete steps to sign the Marine Spatial Plan into law
• Marine Spatial Plan endorsed, implementation begins (date to be confirmed)
• Marine Protection Areas come into effect, with phase in of Allowable Activities Tables (date to be confirmed)
• Approved 2025 High-level Workplan – click here

Updated: 17 Feb 2025