SEYCHELLES, Cousin Island - November 2002
Installation of demarcation buoys for the Cousin Island Marine Reserve
The Seychelle Archipelago is composed of 50 coralline and 40 granitic islands in the Indian Ocean, and has a population of 80,000. Cousin is one of the smallest islands of the Seychelles, at only 62 acres. The island is a private nature reserve and is home to five of the Seychelles endemic birds and a nesting haven for a variety of seabirds and hawksbill turtles. The reserve, which includes the granitic island as well as 437 yards of surrounding sea and reefs, is a conservation success story where the rehabilitation of rare species is at the forefront of island activities. Educational activities at the reserve attract over 10,000 visitors a year, thus enhancing the local economy. Because the protected marine area is not demarcated, fishers inadvertently poach as they do not know where the reserve boundaries are. Seacology, in cooperation with the local organization Nature Seychelles, is providing eight demarcation buoys for the reserve, as well as training for Cousin Island staff to install and maintain the buoys.
UPDATE November 2003 - An American company is presently manufacturing the buoys. Nature Seychelles has identified a local entity that will be installing the buoys as soon as they arrive.
UPDATE July 2004 - The demarcation buoys and all necessary equipment were received and the exact positions for the buoys have been determined with help from the necessary authorities. A local entity will be installing the buoys this summer as soon as weather and currents are favorable.
UPDATE January 2005 - Six demarcation buoys have been placed around the 434-yard perimeter of Cousin Island Special Reserve. The final position of each installation was governed by finding a suitable place to deploy the manta anchors. One additional buoy needs to be deployed to the north of Cousin Island, which will make a total of seven buoys; installation is planned before the end of the year.
UPDATE July 2005 - Seven demarcation buoys have been placed around the 434-yard perimeter of Cousin Island Special Reserve. An international initiative to investigate the effectiveness of the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) was conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The investigation concluded that the Cousin Island Special Reserve proves to be a well-managed protected area, both in terms of achieving its biodiversity and socio-economic objectives, and in terms of showing good percentages overall of land, seabird and coral species diversity. The Seacology project assisted in improving management effectiveness by demarcating the boundaries for the first time. Cousin is currently the only MPA in Seychelles with demarcation buoys in place.
