Seychelles acts to protect endangered dugong |05 October 2010

Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, principal secretary for foreign affairs and chairman of the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), signed the MoU in Abu Dhabi at the first official signatory state meeting taking place from October 4-6.

After the ceremony, the SIF made a donation of US $10,000 towards the small grants programme under this MoU to conserve dugong in the south-western Indian Ocean, where the population is critically low and faces extinction.

Mr Loustau-Lalanne said: “This donation of US $10,000 demonstrates the seriousness of Seychelles in its leadership towards international conservation efforts.

“We hope it will deliver a strong message for other signatory states to help in carrying out this MoU, especially in our region, by preserving the migratory routes including the feeding and breeding grounds of this loveable mammal.”

Aldabra is the only known habitat of the dugong in Seychelles. The first confirmed sighting was in September 2001 and the current estimated population is four individuals.

The Seychelles delegation in Abu Dhabi includes SIF chief executive Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, who said: “The signing of the MoU supports the efforts of the SIF to initiate another conservation success story on Aldabra, which will be formalised with the support of Indian Ocean Tuna, MW Brands and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, who have confirmed their financial help to set up a first comprehensive dugong monitoring programme on the atoll.”