Project background
Financial difficulties facing marine protected areas of the Indian Ocean
Compared to managers BlueSeeds collaborated with in the Mediterranean or in West Africa, managers in the Indian Ocean face specific regional challenges, related to preserving high biodiversity hotspots like coral reefs.
Differences exist in the region. For instance, the Seychelles has developed sophisticated tourism-based mechanisms to finance conservation. In comparison, the Comoros face challenges in ensuring to do so partly due to lower tourist attendance, despite an exceptional natural heritage.
Managers are collaborating with local communities to promote alternative livelihoods, thereby decreasing their exploitation of marine resources. The region has a significant tourism potential. However, funding through public participation (e.g. entrance fees) remains to be better-accepted locally, while managing touristic activities sustainably remains a challenge.
