As a result of millenniums of natural evolution which shaped their outstanding beauty, coral reefs are host to 25% of marine wildlife on the planet. At a time when global warming and human activities have accelerated coral degradation and threaten coral reefs to disappear, the preservation of ocean wonders does depend on individual and collective actions.
The Blue Sentinels platform was incepted in 2018 under the Scuba Divers Federation of Seychelles (SDFS) in order to form a network in which the diving community would anchor their commitment to better protect coral reefs and marine species living in Seychelles waters. By acceding to the Blue Sentinels Charter, the partners formally mark their pledge to adopt « responsible diving1 » rules, to act for coral reef preservation, to share their observations on « under-water » wildlife and to initiate sensitization or training sessions for Seychelles youth.
The Blue Sentinels Charter has been inspired by well-established national and international good practice standards or Charters (SMSA, CMAS, Longitude 181, PADI). Its mission is to contribute to the preservation of marine biodiversity, in all coral reefs2, to the benefit of future generations. This Charter is to evolve overtime depending on the pertinence of new recommandations and good practices standards arising at national and international levels.
The Blue Sentinels Charter represents more than a guide to achieve the goals of ecoresponsibilization and increased information sharing on the silent world of the sea : it is an action-oriented and monitoring framework dedicated to the preservation of what the ocean offers in terms of livelihood and beauty. It is intended to :
- contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Goal 14 on Ocean Protection
- ensure that diving in Seychelles is a well recognized channel for sustainable tourism.
1 Responsible for human (diving security rules) ; Responsible for the environment (respecting marine ecosystems) 2 No difference is made between coral reefs that enjoy legal protection and those that don’t.
