Seychelles hosts major scientific conference on ocean and health |13 November 2019

Vice-President Meriton addressing guests and delegates at the opening of the conference yesterday evening (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

Scientists, policy makers, industry partners and community members from Seychelles and several international organisations are gathered in Seychelles for a two-day scientific conference on issues relating to the ocean and human health.

The conference was officially opened yesterday evening by Vice-President Vincent Meriton at the Avani Resort and Spa, Barbarons.

Organised collaboratively by different entities including the Public Health Authority (PHA) and the Department of Blue Economy among others, the conference includes discussions about scientific research and papers, the status of the ocean ecosystem, marine biodiversity and threats faced by the ocean from climate change, pollution and fishing pressures.

Over the course of the two days, the importance of the ocean to human health and wellbeing, health risks and disease patterns, the potential benefits of the Blue Economy to human health and wellbeing alongside issues relating to policy action, will also be discussed and explored by participants who are privy to an exhibition on various scientific works, technical services and commercial products related to the theme, ocean to health.

Following yesterday’s sessions which comprised numerous presentations by officials from local organisations including the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC), University of Seychelles and Nature Seychelles, as well as international organisations such as the University of Lancaster and Ulster University, Vice-President Meriton commended the organisers for bringing together the opportune and important initiative, in line with the national development strategies which seeks to make science more accessible to a wider audience and towards ensuring that research supports policy development and actions.

“As small islands with vast ocean space, our day-to-day needs are inextricably linked to this resource. Judging from the rich and diverse programme of the conference, it addresses the problems and issues that we face today; the rich biodiversity with which we are blessed, the food that feeds our nation, and the many ways that the ocean supports and sustains life,” Vice-President Meriton said.

“We must also take responsibility for our actions that contribute to our problems. We must act globally and locally and find solutions to problems that confront us. The conference also alerts us to the culture shift that has, and will continue to have significant impact on the health of our nation,” Vice-President Meriton said, noting that the younger generation no longer consume fish and lack knowledge about different fish and marine species.

Vice-President Meriton continued on to state that scientific knowledge is essential to creating knowledge and understanding and to inform policy decisions and actions, noting a milestone in scientific research locally through the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS), a scientific study spanning over three decades on the implications of the consumption of mercury (found in fish) in expecting mothers and the potential health implications on child development.

To close the ceremony, chairman of PHA, Conrad Shamlaye, provided a brief overview of the SCDS study asserting the importance of longitudinal and observatory studies to the medical field.

Dr Shamlaye will in today’s session provide the participants with more details on the internationally-recognised study which has over the year indicated no overall association between prenatal mercury exposure and child development.

Today’s session will also explore agriculture, food security and health, the Seychelles Blue Economy Roadmap and opportunities for research and well as the funding opportunities for research with presentations by Consultant within the department of Blue Economy Rose Marie Bargain, chief executive of the National Institute of Science, Innovation and Technology Xavier Estico and chief executive of the Secyhelles Climate Change Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) Angelique Pouponneau.