Dr Jeanne Mortimer, an international conservation biologist specialising in sea turtles, has questioned whether the development under way on Assomption Island meets the standards of ecotourism.
She gave evidence on Thursday, 15 January 2025, before the Commission of Inquiry into Assomption. She outlined her long-standing support for ecotourism on the island. However, she said the current project does not reflect that approach.
Dr Mortimer told the inquiry that ecotourism does not need to be small-scale. She said it must, however, have a low environmental impact and take account of the surrounding ecosystem.
“As I understand ecotourism, it has to have a low impact and it has to take into account the environment in which you are existing,” she said.
She added that widely accepted definitions of ecotourism also consider cultural and social factors, alongside compatibility with natural ecosystems.
Dr Mortimer said Assomption suits an ecotourism model, particularly because of its proximity to Aldabra. She said organisers can arrange visits to Aldabra through the Seychelles Islands Foundation. However, such visits should not include overnight stays.
She said accommodation on Assomption could allow guests to observe turtle nesting each night. However, she stressed this must be done in a way that does not harm the turtle population.
“I’m not opposed to development at all,” she said. “I just think it’s a question of having the right kind of development.”
When questioned by Commissioner Twomey, Dr Mortimer said the existing project did not meet the definition of ecotourism. The development is already 20 to 30 percent complete.
She told the inquiry the development had not been designed to fit into the surrounding ecosystem in an inconspicuous way. She said this raised concerns about its environmental impact.
Dr Mortimer also questioned whether the project would be accessible to Seychellois. She said she would prefer a model that allows local people to visit the outer islands. This would also give them better access to Aldabra.
She pointed to reported accommodation costs of around 10,000 US dollars per night. She said such prices would be out of reach for most Seychellois.
Based on her observations, Dr Mortimer said the project did not prioritise environmental considerations.