Category Archives: Seychelles

Gurjit Singh

Former Ambassador

The western Indian Ocean Region merits cohesive attention. The Chinese Foreign Ministers New Year safari has been reserved for Africa for the past 32 years. Normally, five countries are visited. This year, all five were not in Africa. Besides Eritrea, Kenya and the Comoros, Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Four of them are in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In 2022, therefore, the Chinese safari extended into the IOR substantively since Comoros and Kenya are also in the IOR.

In January 2021, Wang Yi visited five African countries, including Seychelles, in the IOR. The Chinese imprint in the IOR challenges other countries influence. This started mainly with Chinese anti-piracy naval deployments around the Gulf of Aden in 2008; thereafter, China rehearsed its logistical support to flotillas in the IOR, developing a wider reach for its blue-water navy. China opened its first African base in Djibouti in 2017. Djibouti is strategically located in the Horn of Africa, and already hosted French, US and Japanese bases.

China is now reportedly establishing a base in Equatorial Guinea on the Atlantic coast. This would imply China securing supply routes through the Southern Indian Ocean for which Comoros and the Seychelles are important.

To assess the impact of the recent visit of the Chinese FM on the IOR, the visit to Kenya is illustrative. During the visit, the oil terminal at the Mombasa port was inaugurated. This is an important project on the Indian Ocean coast. It augments the $3.6-billion Chinese-funded Mombasa-Nairobi railway. Kenya is a major Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) recipient and seeks support for its infrastructure development.

The visit to the Comoros was an unusual one after a gap of many years. The ability of Comoros to absorb Chinese funding is limited and the effort is to develop the health sector. Medical teams, pandemic-related supplies and the development of a hospital are among the ongoing programmes. Universal immunisation and dealing with malaria draw synergy between the Emerging Comoros Plan for 2030 and the nine significant programmes of the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in December 2021.

The visit to Comoros also challenges French influence in the area. The French continue to hold the island of Mayotte which geographically is a part of the Comoros chain.

Instead of visiting other African countries, Wang Yi chose to visit the Maldives to mark the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations and Sri Lanka for the 70th anniversary of the rubber-rice pact and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Therefore, the New Year safari focused on consolidating the IOR imprint of China.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives are known to seek Chinese investments and infrastructure support for

their economic development. They seek similar support from India and have learned to play their cards between India as a neighbour and China as a rising superpower. So long as they do not impinge on Indian security concerns, the economic engagement could be acceptable to India. These perceptions can be easily vitiated in the absence of adept responses. Politicians in these neighbouring islands often suggest standing up to India as policy.

India has to do more to deal with Chinese forays into the IOR. It consistently supports Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Comoros besides the other Indian Ocean countries of Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. Evidently, Chinese deep pockets make bigger inroads into these countries which also profess friendship with India.

How is India tackling this engagement? India considerably enhanced its bilateral support including currency swaps in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Whenever there is a crisis, whether from a coup attempt, terror attack, water crisis or the pandemic, India is supportive. India helps them often but in recent times, the rough edges to the partnership have eroded possible gains for Sri Lanka.

In the Comoros, India assisted with vocational training centre and a power plant but these have not attained maturity. In Kenya, it is an investment-led relationship, since Kenya has a strong economic imprint of people of Indian origin. In 2020, Kenya borrowed a line of credit to revive the Rivatex textile mill. However, in these countries, an India-China comparison emerges. Essentially, it is for India to do what it is good at and what it can afford. It may seek to create larger coalitions to provide alternatives to Chinese financing.

The western IOR is part of the Indo-Pacific SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy of India. Japan and France also look at the western IOR as part of the Indo-Pacific. For the US, the western IOR comes under CENTCOM, whereas from Hawaii to India, the region is covered by the Indo-Pacific Command. Australia does not have much outreach to the western IOR.

In 1997, India developed, with 14 partners, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Now it has 23 members. Initially focused on economic cooperation, IORA expanded its scope to include maritime security and non-traditional security threats. The US and China are dialogue partners and recently, the UK and Russia were added. France is now a member. This gives India greater opportunities to work with these partners keeping China as a dialogue partner (DP) and excluding Pakistan.

Between 2012 and 2017, the India-Australia-Indonesia commonality of view on the IORA gave it an impetus, which has somewhat been lost since then. Now that Bangladesh is the chair of IORA, perhaps vigour can be added. This can also be the basis to revive the India-Indonesia-Australia trilateral.

India could utilise the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) to expand its imprint in the region. The IPOI draws on existing regional cooperation architecture to concentrate on seven central pillars. Some have attracted interest but not for the western IOR. The IPOI was announced by India at the EAS summit in 2019. Its pillars like maritime ecology, security, marine resources, capacity building, disaster-risk reduction, S&T, trade and connectivity have immense relevance to the western IOR, IORA and Africa.

India could do well to invite Quad partners, France and the EU, to promote aspects of IPOI, including for the western IOR and create a substantive alternative to Chinese largesse with its attendant challenges.

Go here to read the rest:

Indian Ocean new Chinese sphere of influence - The Tribune India

Today, the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative (AGI) launches its annual flagship report,Foresight Africa.

Two years in, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate every narrative regarding the global economy. The future of trade, migration, travel, supply chains, economic growth, education, innovation, etc.in Africa and elsewhereremain constrained by the uneven recovery from this virus.

Returning to normal will require a truly global effort to reduce and mitigate the devastation COVID-19 has had and is continuing to have on the human and financial health of countries. Instead, we have witnessed the emergence of a parallel but diverging world: The rich and vaccinated and the poor and unvaccinated. Africa remains among the latter: As of this writing, of its 1.3 billion people, less than 11 percent of Africans have been fully vaccinated. Moreover, the region is being left even further behind during the global economic recovery. This divergence in vaccination rates, the intensification of fiscal pressures, increased debt levels, and uneven economic recovery were major themes for the continent in 2021.

These themes compound the complex challenges the region was already facing, including burgeoning youth unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, and the ravages of climate change. While the pandemic forced leaders to recognize that the best way to address these problems is to promote healthy economic growth, we are in danger of falling back to insufficient or even ineffective development strategies and returning to the status quo.

Despite these obstacles, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic about Africas future. While the regions traditional powerhousese.g., Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa as well as Ethiopiawill continue to struggle in the year ahead, the International Monetary Fund forecasts strong growth for sub-Saharan Africa overallin fact, 3.8 percent for 2022. Notably, medium-sized economies such as Ghana, Cte dIvoire, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will take up the slack with growth rates above 6 percent as high commodity prices and government reforms improve finances. Smaller countries such as the Seychelles, Rwanda, Mauritius, and Niger will also reach record-high growth rates in 2022 . Moreover, we are only just beginning to see the fruits of the now-operational African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the regions entrepreneurial and technology-savvy growing youth population.

Thus, I open this years Foresight Africa with a hopeful message given Africas proven ability to weather much of the pandemic with innovation and resilience. The Africa Growth Initiative team and I look forward to the modern, dynamic, and rising Africa captured on this years cover. Moreover, we hope that our approach to and innovations within the 2022 edition of Foresight Africaincluding brand new themes and a more diverse and representative collection of contributorsreflects the dynamism and optimism of the region more broadly. In another change, instead of presenting the theme of good governance as a separate section, this year, each thematic chapter features a good governance viewpoint, underpinning the vital role of good governance in achieving Africas economic and political transformation.

With this and every edition of Foresight Africa, we aim to capture the top priorities for the region in the coming year, offering recommendations for African and global stakeholders for creating and supporting a strong, sustainable, and successful Africa. In doing so, we hope that Foresight Africa 2022 will promote an engaging and thoughtful dialogue on the key issues influencing development policy and practice in Africa during the upcoming year. We hope that this will ultimately lead to sound policies and strategies that sustain and expand the benefits of economic growth to all people of Africa.

We hope you will engage with us by commenting on our Foresight Africa papers, blog posts, podcasts, and graphics, and by sharing your thoughts on the top priorities this year. We also encourage you to vote for what you think should be the top priority for Africa in the year ahead. You can use #ForesightAfricato follow the debate or send your thoughts to@BrookingsGlobalto join the conversation on Twitter. You can also leave comments on our related blog posts

We hope you can join us for our launch event on Wednesday, January 26.

We will follow up on these discussions and post additional contributions from other experts on AGIsAfrica in Focusblog throughout the year.

See more here:

Join the conversation on the top priorities for Africa in 2022 - Brookings Institution

Early yearsEdit

The opening of the Seychelles International Airport took place on 20 March 1972 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Wilkenair of Kenya had, however, already started a ferry service between Mombasa and Mah via Diego Suarez in Madagascar and Astove Island (Seychelles) using a twin engine Piper Navajo the previous year. [7] It operated to the Seychelles once a week. The first pilot to land at Seychelles airport was Tony Bentley-Buckle, who flew his private plane from Mombasa to Mahe via Moroni in March 1971 even before the airfield was complete.[8] The flying time was 9 hours 35 minutes.

This was followed by East African Airways in November 1971 and Luxair in December of the same year. A BOAC Super VC10 was the first jet aircraft to land at Seychelles International Airport on 4 July 1971. [9] At the time of the opening it had a 2987 m runway and a control tower. Ground handling and all other airport operations were carried out by the DCA (Directorate of Civil Aviation).

In 1972, John Faulkner Taylor and Tony Bentley-Buckle founded the first local aircraft company Air Mah, which operated a Piper PA-34 Seneca between Praslin, Fregate, and Mah Islands. This aircraft was later replaced by a Britten-Norman Islander. By 1974, over 30 airlines were flying to the Seychelles. Ground handling and all airport operations were being carried out by Aviation Seychelles Company, a company formed in 1973.[10]

Construction works for the substantial expansion of the airport started in July 1980 [11] Due to the continuous increase in passenger traffic, a terminal building was built that could cater for 400 more arriving and 400 more departing passengers at any time. Parking bays for up to six large aircraft were built and a parking area for five light aircraft. [12]

In 1981, there was a gun battle at Seychelles International Airport, as British national Mike Hoare led a team of 43 South African mercenaries masquerading as holidaying rugby players in a coup attempt in what is known as the Seychelles affair. After their hidden weapons were discovered on arrival a skirmish ensued, with most of the mercenaries later escaping in a hijacked Air India jet.[13]

The years 2005/2006 brought further development of civil aviation in the Seychelles. The Civil Aviation Authority Act was enacted on 4 April 2006 for the corporatisation of the Directorate of Civil Aviation to Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority. Works started to upgrade and extend the terminal building, which has been further extended to handle at least five medium to large jet aircraft (e.g., Boeing 767 or Airbus A330) as well as six smaller jet aircraft (e.g. Boeing 737 or Airbus A320).

Additional parking areas were made available to the north-east of the airport to handle the parking of charter, business, and long stay aircraft (e.g. some European flights arrive in the morning starting at 7 a.m. but do not depart until 10 p.m. onwards).[14] This reduces jet-lag as any flight that leaves Seychelles at night will get to most Western European cities in the early morning and vice versa from the European cities to the Seychelles; it also provides sufficient rest for operating crews.

The airport has been home to unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the United States Air Force and possibly the Central Intelligence Agency for operations over Somalia and the Horn of Africa. President of Seychelles James Michel apparently welcomed the presence of U.S. drones in Seychelles to combat Somalian piracy and terrorism, dating back to at least August 2009.[15] At least two MQ-9 Reaper UAVs have crashed into the Indian Ocean near the airport since December 2011.[16][17][18]

See more here:

Seychelles International Airport - Wikipedia

In 1998, a mass bleaching event hit reefs in the Seychelles, leading to a devastating loss of 90% of the African island nations live coral. While that event wasnt caused by climate change (rather by El Nio, a recurring climate pattern that causes ocean warming every few years), global heating has increased the frequency of these harmful incidents, which strip coral of the microalgae coating that supplies sea life with a nutritious food source.

In turn, the 850 million humans who live close to reefs and rely on those reef fisheries for nutrition and their livelihoods are also put at risk. Its a huge food provisioning role that these reefs are playing, says James Robinson, a research fellow at Lancaster University in the U.K. Almost all the fish that are caught in reefs around the world are consumed domestically by the local population. Thats why a new study, which Robinson coauthored, gives hope: Even reefs that havent recovered their original algae states after bleaching seem to provide nutrient-rich food to fish.

The Seychelles islands, which contain 1,700 square kilometers of reefs, have been particularly hard hit, making them a good case study for Robinson to determine exactly how climate events can affect the nutritional potential of reefs. And, more generally, to find out how nutrient-rich tropical reef fish are, in a place where its the primary source of protein, representing 47% of animal protein intake among residents.

Of the countrys bleached reefs, 40% experienced habitat collapse and macroalgal overgrowth, where the reef is overrun by seaweed, a relatively common outcome. That new food source favors tropical bottom-feeders, like rabbitfish and parrotfish, which have increased in biomass in the Seychelles, despite the coral collapsing. The team measured specific minerals in the muscles of these fish from the reefs, comparing them with ones from reefs that had recovered their coral. They then compared the mineral content to those of other common proteins, including chicken breast, ribeye, and tilapia.

They found the fish were nutritious, consistent with most seafood. But the content of minerals like iron and calcium was higher than in species like tilapia. Most surprising was how nutritious the fish from the unrecovered corals were: Iron and zinc content was higher in fish from those habitats versus the recovered reefs. We didnt see that coming, Robinson says.

The researchers believe the reason is, quite simply, that the seaweed is richer in those minerals. Sargassum seaweeds . . . have high levels of minerals and, when cover is high, may account for similar amounts of primary production as turf algae, the report reads. And if the fish are now eating nutrient-rich seaweed, humans who eat those fish are also benefiting. We think this higher contribution of a new energy source provides nutrients in the entire food web, Robinson says.

That finding could be vital in the Seychelles and similar tropical countries, given malnutrition struggles due to deficiencies of iron, zinc, and calcium, which leads to stunted growth and anemia as well as food insecurity. These results suggest that coral reef small-scale fisheries may play a vital local role in public health, the study reads.

Coral bleaching is still reducing biodiversity, and the biomass of piscivores (fish-eaters) that rely on a more diverse source of prey than the seaweed feeders. Its bad from a coral reef biodiversity perspective, Robinson says. Theres no doubt about that. But the nutrient-packed herbivorous fish that are caught for food have increased in biomass, which is a boon for the local population. Around the world, there are similar trends, Robinson says: The Great Barrier Reef, which experienced the largest mass bleaching event since the Seychelles, has also attracted more herbivores.

Despite loss of coral, you can still produce food, Robinson concludes, noting that the main takeaway should be the importance of managing reef fisheries in a more sustainable way. Reefs do play an important role in local food security in the tropics, he says. And they can still do so. We just cant overfish.

Continued here:

Coral reefs are dying, but there's a tiny bit of good news about what happens when they're gone - Fast Company

If you're after some luxury beauty products that won't break the bank, then Aldi's dupes of The White Companys Seychelles range are ideal

Image: Aldi)

Budget supermarket Aldi is popular for its dupes of popular beauty buys, which give shoppers a chance to get their hands on affordable versions of cult favourites such as Jo Malone London candles, Pixi's Glow Tonic and Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser.

If you love luxury beauty products, but aren't too keen on their hefty prices, then it's definitely worth taking a look at the chain's budget beauty range.

It's the perfect place to get your hands on dupes of high-end items for a fraction of the price you'd pay for the original products. We can't promise the results will be the same, but you'll certainly be making a huge saving.

One Aldi beauty range shoppers can't seem to get enough of lately the "Paradise" collection, which features several hand and body products that are incredibly similar to The White Company 's much-loved Seychelles range.

Some of the products include the same popular scent of bergamot, amber and vanilla found in The White Companys collection.

However, Aldis range is much more affordable, with prices starting from just 1.99, compared to the 10-30 price range youd find at the other retailer.

After discovering Aldi's range of Seychelles dupes, a member of the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook said it "smells exactly the same" as its luxury counterparts.

The savvy shopper was hugely impressed by how similar the Paradise products were to The White Company's bestselling range.

Aldi's super affordable collection, which includes a hand cream, shower gel and hand wash, is perfect for anyone that's been pining after The White Company's dreamy collection but doesn't want to fork out 10-30.

We're expecting the budget-friendly products to fly off the shelves - so be quick if you want to get your hands on them.

You can shop Aldi's Paradise range online at aldi.co.uk and in stores across the country.

If you're planning to shop in-person, you can find out the closest Aldi to you by using the retailer's store locator tool. You'll also be able to find opening and closing time information for each store listed there as well.

Original post:

Aldi selling dupes of The White Companys Seychelles range from just 1.99 - The Mirror

Home General Seychelles and ASEAN will co-host the ASEAN AFRICA Forum in 2022

Posted By: January 13, 2022

Download logoThe Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, held discussions with the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, at the ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta yesterday.

The ASEAN Secretary General, who was recently on a working visit to Seychelles, recalled his dialogue with the President of the Republic of Seychelles and the members of the cabinet of ministers in December 2021, reiterating his intention to follow up on the topics discussed.

Minister Radegonde assured the Secretary General of Seychelles commitment to continue to enhance relations with ASEAN and the individual member countries of the organisation.

The Secretary General has proposed that ASEAN co-hosts an ASEAN AFRICA Forum in Seychelles this year. The forum will aim at sharing the upcoming prospects to foster economic growth.

Minister Radegonde was accompanied by Mr Nico Barito, Seychelles Envoy to ASEAN.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism - Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Like Loading...

Excerpt from:

Seychelles and ASEAN will co-host the ASEAN AFRICA Forum in 2022 - Social News XYZ

Home General High Commissioner Morel represents Seychelles at the SADC Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government

Posted By: January 14, 2022

Download logoThe Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened an extraordinary summit meeting this week in Lilongwe to discuss the organizations efforts and deployment in bringing back peace and security in the northern province of Cabo Delgado of Mozambique. High Commissioner Morel attended the Summit on behalf of President Ramkalawan, which concluded on Wednesday, 12thJanuary 2022.

The Summit was officially opened and chaired by His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, in his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC, and was attended by the heads of state and high ranking government officials of the SADC members. The meeting considered the latest reports on the evolution of the situation in the province and acknowledged that the SADC Mission in Mozambique had made considerable progress in combating acts of terrorism and extreme violence. The missions mandate has been extended for a further three months.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism - Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Like Loading...

Read this article:

High Commissioner Morel represents Seychelles at the SADC Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government - Social News XYZ

The African island nation of So Tom and Prncipe has announced a new resolution to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI).

The country whose population relies on fish as aprimary source of protein is now the sixth nation committed to increase transparency in its fisheries management through the FiTI standard, following Mauritania, Seychelles, Senegal, Cabo Verde, and Madagascar, according to a statement by FiTI.

So Tom and PrncipeMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Francisco Martins dos Ramos saidhiscountry recognized early on that its valuable fisheries resources were being exploited beyond sustainable levels, by national and foreign fleets, and in a non-transparent and non-inclusive manner.

Therefore, we seek to create mechanisms to reverse this trend and help regenerate the exploitation of fisheries resources through the development of a sustainable fisheries management system based on fisheries research, fisheries administration and an inspection system, the minister said in a letter to FiTI International Board Chair Valeria Merino.

With the countrys commitment to join FiTI the next phase will be to work on completing the steps required to submit an official application.

A first country mission by the FiTI International Secretariat has been scheduled for February and March 2022.

The country has a catch capacity of roughly 29,000 metric tons of fish a year, and through pledging to join the FiTI standard, it has vowed to begin implementing transparency initiatives backed by the group.

According to FiTI, the standard provides governments, the fishing industry, and civil society with a comprehensive and credible way to achieve and maintain high levels of transparency on the management of the marine fisheries sector and the activities of fishers and fishing companies.

FiTI Global has listed Comoros, Ecuador, Lebanon, Mexico, Mauritius, and Peru as target countries for its membership drive.

So Tom and Prncipe's fisheries are exclusively artisanal and largely focused on small pelagics.Through its involvement with FiTI, the country also plans to involve stakeholders throughout the value chain to remain consistent with FiTIs objectives.

An earlier commitment by So Tom and Prncipe to join FiTI in 2018 was delayed after the country had a change in government in 2019. The process was restarted in November 2020, with engagement between the FiTI International Secretariat and key seafood stakeholders in the country including the government, businesses, and civil society collaborators with the support of MAR Ambiente e Pesca Artesanal (MARAPA) a FiTI Global partner.

With this commitment, the government of So Tom and Prncipe is setting a decisive milestone for transparency in the management of its marine fisheries, FiTI Global said.

"Transparent commercial and financial flows in the fisheries sector can help the country to achieve more responsible, equitable, and profitable fisheries, while better governance will reassure potential investors and attract more foreign investment," FiTI said.

Photo courtesy ofCesar J. Pollo/Shutterstock

Continued here:

So Tom and Prncipe becomes member of FiTI - SeafoodSource

In what is believed to be a rare feat, Jonathan, a 190-year-old tortoise has been named as the worlds oldest living land animal by Guinness Book of World Records. The tortoise, at St Helena island, British Overseas Territory, celebrates its 190th birthday in 2022.

According to the records website, Jonathan is believed to have been born in 1832, thus making him 190 years old in 2022. Jonathans age is an estimation based on the fact that he was fully mature, and hence at least 50 years old, when he arrived in St Helena from the Seychelles in 1882. In all likelihood, he is even older than we think, the records site stated.

The official record title states that he is the oldest chelonian a category which encompasses all turtles, terrapins and tortoises.

Now, as he ages, he has no sense of smell and is blind. But his hearing though is excellent and he loves the company of humans, and responds well to his vet Joe Hollins voice as he associates him with a feast.

The records site also suggested that the veterinary section is still feeding him by hand once a week to boost his calories, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

The previous record was held by another tortoise Tui Malila who lived to be at least 188. It was presented to the royal family of Tonga by Captain Cook in 1777 and remained in their care until its death in 1965, the site mentioned.

Among Jonathans favourite foods are cabbage, cucumber, carrot, apple and other seasonal fruits.

He loves banana, but it tends to gum up his mouth. Lettuce hearts, though not very nutritious, are a favourite, the site said.

For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and dont miss out on the latest updates!

Read the original post:

Guinness Book of World Records: Meet 190-year-old Jonathan, the worlds oldest living tortoise - The Indian Express

One of the most easily visible impacts of climate change is coral bleaching. As temperatures rise worldwide, water temperatures are climbing as well, causing colorful coral to become stressed and kick out their symbiotic algae partners. These events leave the reefs without their primary food source and susceptible to disease.

Weve already seen this happen multiple times throughout recent history. In 2020, the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, experienced its third major bleaching event over the span of only five yearsand it might see another one by the end of this month. In some instances, the bleaching is so intense that it leads to high mortality. Reef decline impacts the communities of fish that live there, as well as the populations of people who depend on reefs for food or income.

In 1998, the African archipelago of Seychelles experienced a massive heatwave that caused almost all the coral in the area to die out. Researchers scoping out the impacts of the disaster for the past 20 years have learned that about half of the reefs have recovered, while the other half have been replaced with seaweed. But more recently, an international team of scientists found that the fish populations, even the ones swimming around the most damaged coral, were substantially healthier than predictedat least when it comes to nutritional value for humans. They published their findings yesterday in OneEarth.

[Related: Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefsbut we need better tech to really listen]

The Seychelles is a great place to study how fish contribute to peoples health because loads of people eat fish, says James Robinson, a coral reef ecologist at Lancaster University in the UK and lead author on the paper.

Robinson set off to find fish with a handful of local anglers and captured samples of 43 tropical reef species from both the recovered and seaweed-infested regions. He and his fellow researchers then sent off snips of frozen muscle from the subjects to analyze things like the concentration of minerals and fatty acids.

We wanted to first understand how nutritious are reef fish, so we took all these values and compared them to other meats like chicken, pork, and beef, Robinson says. What we found is that reef fish are similar or more nutritious than those meats that was super cool, uncovering the roles that reefs are playing in peoples health.

But they also discovered something strange: Beyond being generally healthy, the reed fish were more nutritious after the bleaching event than before. After comparing the data, the study authors found an increase in fish biomass and a corresponding increase in nutrients in fish from today versus pre-1998 fish.

Whats more, the fish on the seaweed-heavy reefs had more iron and zinc than the same species on recovering coral sites. The significant change in the food web, moving toward nutrient-heavy macroalgae, propagated up the food chain to everything that eats the seaweed, Robinson says.

This sort of says that reefs in Seychelles are continuing to provide food despite these really severe climate impacts, Robinson says.

However, not all bleached reefs give away to productive seaweedsometimes, theyre replaced by grassy turf algae, which hasnt been studied in this method yet. So theres always the possibility that other bleaching events, like the ones in recent years, wont see the same nutritional silver lining. Still, this research emphasizes the importance of protecting coral reefs as a part of protecting the food systemeven after climate impacts.

Currently, Seychelles is heavily dependent on imports, with about 90 percent of their total food coming from outside the country. Globally, climate change poses a growing threat to food systems, whether due to smaller farming yields or troublesome impacts on fisheries.

We should focus attention on if we can manage coral reefs to protect that food supply and understand how bleaching will affect it at the same time, Robinson says. Most reefs are not managed for fishing, so theres a risk that if you fish too hard, you lose that nutritional benefit. Hopefully this is another great reason to manage and protect reef fishes.

View original post here:

Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa - Popular Science