The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, has called for integrated water and ocean management, saying freshwater, coastal and ocean systems should be managed as a single interconnected system. He warned that fragmented approaches weaken resilience.
President Herminie was speaking at the Blue Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. He thanked the Government of the United Arab Emirates for the invitation to share Seychelles’ perspective.
He said climate pressures are intensifying while economic uncertainty is increasing, making water one of the world’s most critical natural resources.
Freshwater, coastal and ocean systems underpin food security, trade, energy, livelihoods and ecosystems. However, the President said authorities have long managed these systems separately, leading to fragmented decisions and reduced resilience.
He referred to the Blue Forum’s ambition to mobilise 100 billion US dollars in investment across water and ocean systems by 2030. Water, he said, is central to climate adaptation, economic stability and human development.
President Herminie said Seychelles, as a Small Island Developing State, is on the frontline of climate change. He said the interaction between land, water and sea shapes the country’s economy, infrastructure and communities. Any disruption along this continuum, he said, affects development.
He said Seychelles has pursued the Blue Economy as an integrated national development pathway.
He said this approach is based on the principle that long-term socio-economic resilience depends on healthy ecosystems and inclusive growth.
Referring to recent events, President Herminie said Seychelles experienced one of the most severe droughts in its recent history last year. He said the drought affected households, agriculture, ecosystems and essential services.
“The time to act is now,” he said.
He said Seychelles has adopted integrated approaches including marine spatial planning, ridge-to-reef programmes, sustainable fisheries management and water security initiatives. The country has now legally protected more than 30% of its ocean area.
President Herminie said effective management and climate adaptation require sustained and predictable financing. He acknowledged support from partners including India, China and the United Arab Emirates.
President Herminie thanked the UAE for assistance during the drought, including the provision of desalination plants.