VICTORIA, Seychelles — Former President James Michel has called on Seychellois and the international community to embrace ocean regeneration, not just sustainability, in a message to mark World Ocean Day, observed annually on June 8. Drawing on his recently published book ‘Revisiting the Ocean: Living the Blue Economy’, Mr Michel said the ocean “is to be cherished not simply for what it can add to a balance sheet but for what it is”.
“In all respects, the ocean is awe-inspiring with its beauty, mystery and the vast diversity of marine life it supports. It is also our life support system, critical for our survival, and it must thrive for us to survive — a healthy ocean is a healthy you,” he said. He noted that the more marine life there is in the ocean, the more the ocean can carry out its functions, and that protection restores marine life, supports jobs and thriving economies, enhances fisheries, and helps mitigate global warming.
Mr Michel, who has long been an advocate for the blue economy, said sustainability must go further to include regeneration in order to manifest a thriving and flourishing living system. “We all have a responsibility to care for what we have inherited and to pass it on to future generations. It is not acceptable to passively witness the disappearance of the dugong, or the wanton removal of mangroves and seagrass.” His message comes as Seychelles joins other small island developing states at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where ocean protection, marine biodiversity, and the blue economy are high on the agenda.
