Aldabra boat
Seychelles Islands Foundation
Enforcement of protection of a remote marine protected area
Aldabra Atoll has been protected legally and as well as in practice for almost 40 years. Through the Aldabra research station, the Seychelles Islands Foundation has been actively present on the site. Furthermore, monthly patrols are conducted to the majority of Aldabra’s beaches, and other research activities take staff to various parts of the atoll weekly. As a result, there is a strong presence around the atoll. Being such a remote location, this active and continuous presence on Aldabra deters turtle poachers from the atoll and also enables poachers to be stopped if caught in the illegal act.
Operations on Aldabra are funded through visitor entrance fees to Vallée de Mai, Seychelles second World Heritage Site also managed by SIF. Boats and fuel are needed to access most beaches for conducting patrols. Qualified personnel trained in skippering and experienced in navigating on Aldabra is essential to reach beaches far away from the research station.
In order for operations to be successful and for safety purposes, the training and transfer of knowledge is an essential component when working on a remote marine area. A thorough understanding of environmental conditions such as tides and currents and geomorphological elements, such as shorelines and islet locations, is vital to conduct movements on Aldabra. Skills and knowledge are passed on to all new personnel working on Aldabra by more experienced personnel before visiting far away sites and conducting patrols. Moreover, staff needs to be aware of the legal framework of the protection of the atoll in order to know how to intercept poachers.