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Seychelles hosts globally important populations of marine turtles, including one of the five largest nesting populations of the "critically endangered" Hawksbill Turtle remaining in the world. There are also significant nesting populations of the "endangered" Green Turtle. Although Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles feed in Seychelles waters, no breeding activity has been recorded. 

Since 2003, MCSS has been implementing four complementary and mutually supportive turtle programmes that address the strategic, tactical and local scenarios in an attempt to address turtle conservation in an integrated manner. These programmes have also incorporated community and stakeholder involvement as much as is possible. 

These programmes include:

- “Strategic Management of Turtle Populations” launched in June 2003 and funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office through the British High Commission in Victoria.

- “Integrated Turtle Beach Management Project” on Intendance beach, South Mahé, launched in August 2003 and funded by Banyan Tree Resort, Seychelles.

- “Conservation of Priority Turtle Rookeries on the Developed Islands” launched in January 2004 and funded by voluntary donations from the general public and business community.

- “Movement patterns of nesting and inter-nesting hawksbill turtles on the developed islands of Seychelles” launched in December 2007 and funded by Barclays bank Seychelles.

The first is aimed at developing a strategic approach to turtle management in Seychelles . The project was funded by the British High Commission and aimed to bring together stakeholders that manage and monitor turtle rookeries, find a means for them to share their data, establish a common database and then use this to develop a strategy and action plan for turtle management in Seychelles.

This programme resulted in the setting up of the database with its associated Web Site and the formation of the Turtle Action Group of Seychelles

The second programme is in partnership with the Banyan Tree Resort, with the aim of Integrated Marine Turtle and Beach Management at Anse Intendance. This project focuses on the management of the beach, dune structure and associated vegetation to enhance turtle nesting and mitigate the impacts of tourism activities on the beach and dunes. It has also enabled a long-term approach to rehabilitation and maintenance of the beach crest vegetation with support from the local community.

Besides monitoring activities the project incorporates local community involvement, particularly through educational activities for school children. The project also incorporates the Hotel clients with educational talks, provision of information in the rooms on turtles and in particular information on how tourists should act if they encounter a turtle on the beach. 

The third programme,  the Conservation of Priority Turtle Rookeries on the Developed Islands, is a multi site programme that involves a broad community involvement approach. 

There are numerous private individuals as well as two hotels supporting this programme, the Lemuria resort on Praslin and Chalets Anse Forbans on Mahe. Details of the ongoing progress are available from our blog.

One of our most innovative turtle programmes launched in 2007 is to help discover the movement patterns of nesting and inter-nesting hawksbill turtles using Satellite tagging to track them. The project was funded by Barclays bank and involved children from local schools and the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles in numerous schools and club projects and competitions, including naming the turtle.... now known as 'Carol'.

After her nesting season finished in early 2008 Carol left the south of Mahe and embarked on a journey of some 1176 kms to her foraging area off North West Madagascar. Her tag is still active (as of April 2009) and regular updates on the travels of 'Carol' the turtle can be found on our  blog.

A new programme scheduled to start in 2009 is funded by Mangroves For the Future and will be building on the synergistic work carried out on the turtle populations of the developed islands. This programme aims to set up further community based partnerships to assist with long-term monitoring and rehabilitation of turtle rookeries as well launching a public awareness campaign to build up on local support.

Photos on this page by V. Iverson  

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