Networking the Blue Economy in Seychelles: pioneers, resistance, and the power of influence

Abstract

The Blue Economy has gained traction as a key concept that seeks to stem biodiversity loss whilst stimulating economic development, thereby integrating environmental and economic interests. Although the Blue Economy builds on the more familiar Green Economy, academic critique is still emerging and can be slow to translate into changes in policy and practice. What the Blue Economy means to national and local policy makers and practioners is seldom explored, and specificity is lacking on how the triple bottom line of economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity can be attained. This article explores these issues in one of the pioneering nations promoting the Blue Economy -the Republic of Seychelles -to establish a) how policy makers and practitioners in Seychelles perceive the Blue Economy b) what perspectives influence the concept; and c) who stands to gain or lose from its implementation. Seychelles has a unique position in Africa, due to its remote location in the Indian Ocean, its political history, and its pioneering role in promoting the Blue Economy: it presents itself as a leader for Africa in this respect. Using a combination of interviews and Q-methodology, we identify three perspectives on the Blue Economy in the country. Policymakers and practitioners are either: supportive in principle, critical in practice; pragmatic and accepting; or idealistic. These three perspectives capture the interpretations of those tasked with enacting the Blue Economy, but many of the perspectives present in international discourse are not present in the country, and indeed elements of them are met with resistance. Drawing on a social network analysis we find that the critical perspective is most influential in terms of information, both with government and non-government actors. However, the pragmatic and accepting perspective is more influential in terms of resource allocation, indicating a lack of resources could hamper actions by the actors that would like to see change. RésuméL'économie bleue est devenue un concept fondamental qui vise à enrayer la perte de biodiversité tout en stimulant le développement économique et en intégrant ainsi les intérêts environnementaux et économiques. Bien que l'économie bleue s'appuie sur l'économie verte, qui est plus familière, des critiques continuent d'émerger et peuvent tarder à se traduire en changements de politique et de pratique. Ce que l'économie bleue signifie pour les décideurs et les praticiens nationaux et locaux est rarement exploré, et il manque des spécificités sur la manière d'atteindre le triple résultat de la croissance économique, de la durabilité environnementale et de l'équité sociale. Cet article explore ces questions dans l'un des pays pionniers promouvant l'économie bleue -la République des Seychelles -afin d'établir a) comment les décideurs et les praticiens aux Seychelles perçoivent l'économie bleue; b) quelles perspectives influencent le concept; c) qui est gagnant ou perdant de sa mise en oeuvre. Les Seychelles occupent une position unique...

Materializing the blue economy: tuna fisheries and the theory of access in the Western Indian Ocean

“…Mauritius also hosts the main transshipment port for longliners operating in regional waters. In Seychelles, tuna fisheries are at the center of the economy (Schutter and Hicks 2019). In 2011, tuna fisheries contributed to approximately 20% of the GDP as well as more than 90% of exports (Marsac et al 2014).…”

“…In Madagascar and Mauritius, fishers did not mention marine protected areas as a major obstacle to their fishing because their fishing grounds were not close to MPAs (MD 51, MU 18, local fishers). In the Seychelles, however, news about an upcoming large new MPA raised concerns amongst fishers as a threat to access to tuna grounds (SE 29, 47, 48, local fishers) while the government positions itself as a lead player in the blue economy through this initiative (Schutter and Hicks 2019). Madagascar has developed many local conventions in managing its marine resources.…”

Securing the blue: political ecologies of the blue economy in Africa

“…Another example relates to Seychelles where the blue economy narrative has provoked a new imaginary of economic development based on a newly rendered sense of territorial significance (Schutter and Hicks 2019). As Ronny Jumeau, erstwhile Seychelles ambassador for Climate Change memorably put it, "our islands may be small in land area, but we morph into large ocean states once our exclusive economic zones are factored in" (Jumeau 2013: 2).…”

“…As Ronny Jumeau, erstwhile Seychelles ambassador for Climate Change memorably put it, "our islands may be small in land area, but we morph into large ocean states once our exclusive economic zones are factored in" (Jumeau 2013: 2). Invoking a kind of transformative, territorial magic that reworks the state as a more powerful actor, governments of Small Island States (SIDs) such as the Republic of Seychelles "are taking the opportunity to articulate their preferred development paths and invite/negotiate in EEZ arrangements with various partners" (Silver et al 2018: 1;Schutter and Hicks 2019). For SIDs in Africa, the blue economy centers the ocean as a key motor for development by foregrounding its physical extent and properties (Silver et al 2015).…”

“…For SIDs in Africa, the blue economy centers the ocean as a key motor for development by foregrounding its physical extent and properties (Silver et al 2015). These qualities, in part, provide the physical geographic basis for policy initiatives such as the 'debtfor-nature' swaps currently being promoted by the Republic of Seychelles (Schutter and Hicks 2019;Silver et al 2018). These sorts of policies can be read as a biodiversity conversation familiar to environmental governance strategies in landed contexts (Kay 2018;Sullivan 2013), yet here it is one attuned to the ocean.…”