VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Marine Conservation Society Seychelles has launched a new research project under the Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grants Programme, focusing on elasmobranchs – the collective term for sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish – to improve scientific understanding of these species’ populations within the Beau Vallon Bay area. The project, led by MCSS science coordinator Sophie Berlouis, aims to establish a working relationship with Seychellois fishermen to collect important biometric data from landed sharks and rays over the next twelve months. Over forty species of elasmobranchs have been recorded in the local artisanal catch, highlighting the diversity of these species sold as food within Seychelles.
For Seychellois communities who rely on fishing as both a source of protein and income, sustainable management of elasmobranch populations is essential to ensure long-term food security and livelihood stability. Elasmobranchs are a common and affordable protein source for many households, yet much remains unknown about their pupping seasonality, nursery areas, and population dynamics. Without this knowledge, sustainable fisheries management becomes difficult, risking both ecological damage and economic loss if stocks decline through overexploitation. The research project bridges the gap between traditional ecological knowledge held by fishermen and modern conservation science.
For many species, there is limited knowledge about pupping seasonality and which areas serve as vital nurseries, information that is essential for sustainable wildlife management and maintaining healthy fish populations. By establishing a working relationship with the Seychellois fishermen, MCSS will collect biometric data including species diversity, abundance, body length, and sex from landed sharks and rays. Recording this information will provide valuable insights regarding the diversity and life stages of elasmobranchs using the Beau Vallon Bay area.
Following twelve months of data collection, MCSS hopes to shed light on species seasonality, specifically whether certain sharks and rays show a marked influx at particular times of the year. Documenting these trends helps bridge the gap between traditional ecological knowledge and modern conservation, while providing valuable guidance for sustainable wildlife management. The collaboration with fishermen is crucial because their daily observations of catches provide data that would otherwise be impossible to collect through scientific surveys alone.
The project aligns with Seychelles’ broader Blue Economy strategy, which seeks to balance economic development from marine resources with environmental conservation. Sustainable fisheries management is a cornerstone of this approach, requiring sound scientific data to inform quotas, protected areas, and seasonal restrictions. The Save Our Seas Foundation’s support demonstrates international recognition of the importance of small-scale research projects in building the knowledge base needed for effective conservation.
Expanding knowledge of local wildlife is essential to safeguarding the country’s natural resources for future generations, contributing to both ecological sustainability and food security for coastal communities.
