And alas started the second week of the internship: I had to sail away from the Seychelles Coast Guard and I found myself landing at the Seychelles Air force. I arrived at the Air force very early in the morning whereupon I reached the gate, my supervisor was called to greet me.
After having a small breakfast, I had the chance to visit the different facilities of the army base and to meet with Lt. Col Pouponneau –the Commanding Officer of SAF. I also met with the second in command Captain Rodney Zarine, who is also a pilot and an aviation enthusiast who has had the unique chance to visit almost all of our islands. I also got acquainted to Lieutenant Jean who turned out to be quiet and funny man who spent the rest of the week trying to keep me busy. I also got introduced to several other air force personnel who are mainly a group of young, disciplined and well qualified soldiers. The peak of the morning though, came minutes later when I was announced that I would be going on a military training flight with the Airforce –I was immediately thrilled. To get ready for the flight I had to go through a briefing process where I was informed on what was going to happen during the flight. My nerves got me, when I was told that it happens quite occasionally that one or two personnel do regurgitate and get quite dizzy while on those flights. I suddenly wanted to turn back. Was I going to let my nerve get the best of me? I convinced myself that a little adventure and scare wouldn’t kill anyone. Few minutes later, I learned that this one flight did not involve any G-force or swift movement that could make me sick. So here I was all brave and daring once again! After putting my life jacket on and getting a bottle of water, I boarded the plane and watched the two pilot officers do a series of checks which took about one hour. After few minutes I was completely distracted by a Zil-Air helicopter which was landing then it took off nearby almost immediately. Suddenly I heard a loud bang, some weird noise I could not process and something got locked –the engineer on the tarmac had locked the door close from the outside – and there was no getting out! The propeller started and the plane moved… At 10:52 am we took off and up and away we went! Seconds later I was above the sea…the view down below was breathtaking, I was in awe. While we got up to cruising altitude, I could not help but notice how our ocean was indeed a very busy place. I saw a fisherman pushing his boat to sea trying to earn his daily bread. Just after that I spotted a bigger fishing vessel carrying on its task after the crew on board got slightly distracted from the passing plane. Further and further away there was a privately owned boat going away from Mahe. There was also what I thought look like a cruise ship navigating our ocean. It was not only on that particular day that I realised how lively our EEZ was. Because two days later I did go on another training flight. This time we were flying over Praslin. As we near Praslin Island and got to a lower altitude to land the plane; I could see tourist in the sea swimming. On the other side I could once again see fisherman fishing and leisure boats with the crew probably a Seychellois trying to run his boat tour business. After the end of the one and a half hour flight we went back towards Mahe. Down below I could see more ocean based economic activities in the ocean and on the port as we flew really closed by. While the pilot did their magic and we landed at Pointe Larue Airport, my thoughts process was well away thinking about how much of a vital resource is our ocean. How lucky we are to be surrounded by nothing but the sea. Once in a while we have a relaxing swimming session, snorkel or diving. We even transform ourselves into photographer or artist trying to capture the beauty of this God-given heritage. We become poets, writers and biologist trying to express what goes on down below sea level. Some of us even become interns, affirming to our young self that from now on and for the rest of our future we will invest ourselves in securing a job that will preserve and sustain the ocean. And as the aircraft door unlocked from the outside, I climbed out reluctantly and gave one last look at the plane with the Seychelles Air force logo boldly embedded on it-what would our large EEZ be without the Seychelles Air force keeping an eagle’s view on our blue treasure? Written by Shantana Barbe
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Mariana here! Okay so basically I’ve mentioned mostly everything I’ve done and learnt at the port and SPA included, not all of course because there’s just too much to talk about and explain. So instead, let’s move more towards why I’m at the port in the first place, SPA to be more precise.
The port is a place which works on water, nobody expects to see any boats flying through the air or running on tires on the main road. Melissa and I were sent here to learn about what Seychelles Port Authority was and their role in the blue economy. But was that really what happened? Yes I will admit that I’ve learnt so much from these people and got the opportunity to experience things that many haven’t but are we the only ones who have learnt? SPA is very much aware about the blue economy concept and try their best to keep all the work they do environmentally friendly. But that’s just some, many times people have asked us what we do at the blue economy or what our role at the port is. What I have realised so far is that we were not here to just learn but to teach those who didn’t know much about what the blue economy focuses on doing and its roles. I can’t deny the confusion I felt when I found out I was being sent to the port, SPA to be more precise, but as time passed I became more familiar with the port I realised that we would have figure out ways to make changes on our own. I know two young girls trying to make a change in a port like this sounds impossible but the right voice with the right person would make a difference. Seeing two girls walking around with a fresh mind of saving and looking after the ocean makes a bigger difference in someone’s mind than you think, shedding some light on the situation, influences more people to do the same. Yes I know the sea water around the port isn’t the cleanest but is it really that bad? I used to think no one did anything about it but as I learnt and explored more about the port I also learnt about the rules and regulations they had about it. Oil spill or dumping of other harmful substances even though rather familiar, no matter how small, was unacceptable. If vessels were caught the people responsible would face some problems with the authority in charge of the problem. I never knew the port had people specifically for these kinds of jobs and found it very satisfying to know that they didn’t take the matter lightly. As boats use a lot of coastal space and more boats are being manufactured almost every other day we need to push more on protecting our seas and that’s (in my perspective) what the blue economy does. Not just trying to protect the ocean but find ways to explore and develop the oceans resources for better and proper use, doing operations that cause minimal environmental impact in the sea all while using it for economic growth at the same time. Yeah it’s hard I’ll admit, it’s a big world and it’s a wide ocean, surely a small group of people can’t save it all on their own right? We need more helpers, more people to care about the very waters we swim in. Remember one person can make a difference. You have an idea that would help? Don’t stay quiet, every thought counts. Once again I’m Mariana and this was my thoughts and views about my amazing two weeks at the port! One week at Coast Guard
Hi guys its Frances again.For my second week of my Internship I was placed at the Seychelles Coast guard located at Ile Perseverance. My experience over at the Seychelles Coast guard was a really interesting one. I started on Monday where I met Daryl another intern from SYAH. We were introduced to Lieutenant Payet who was going to be responsible for us during that week. Everyone wore fancy and cool uniform they had blue ones and the solider uniforms we see in the movies. The people over there were really strict. Everyone acted in very responsible and professional manner. There were so many other lieutenants and Captains we met eventually. On the first day we visited the Coast guard boats. From the really small ones to bigger ones. It was really interesting as Daryl and I got the chance to ask questions about the boats, the different parts of it. We got to visit the cabins, the machine room which was super hot! The technician explained to us in details how those machines worked and what happens to the boat if something stops working. On the second day we went for a short patrol with two soldiers. We went to the old port and checked for any abnormalities at site. Though the trip was short I really enjoyed it. On Thursday I even got to navigate the small boat when coming back from North East point conducting a patrol. The soldiers gave me instructions where to go and which buoy to focus on. That was probably the best part of my week placement at Coast Guard. I really enjoyed it. Furthermore, Daryl and I got the chance to visit what they call the “heart’” of coastguard. It’s a big office called the MOC which stands for Maritime Operation Centre. Over there we learnt so many cool stuff that they have to deal with. It is in this room that all the radio calls from anyone in trouble calls to get help. They also had many computers with different programs to locate where certain boats where. Or if ever there was an unknown vessel passing through our border they would be able to spot that vessel and take further action to find out what the boat is doing in our border. This program was very essential during the time of piracy, the workers were able to detect any incoming boats coming into our border and later try getting help from international forces. This program is called VMS standing for Vessel Monitoring System. I think this program is a very good initiative to use especially for local boat owners. Unfortunately there is not yet a law enforced to make it a must that all boats should have VMS every time they go out to sea. It would be way easier for the Coast Guard to spot anyone in distress if those boats did have VMS. It is also safer for those boats owners if ever they were in trouble. Over at MOC we got to answer calls from radio and learnt a few codes they use. I found those codes super cool; it was as if I was in a movie. “Sierra, Zulu, Lima, Seven, Copy, copy”. Another job the Coast guards do is they investigate and do searches on boats at sea if they suspect any illegal activities. If ever they do find things like drugs or turtle meat or anything illegal they take to our local police, NDEA and SFA for any further investigation. If ever there is anyone in distress or lost at sea, they can also get the help of the Seychelles Air Force so they could get an aerial view of how bad the situation is or in search of a lost boat. I also noticed that everyone had different numbers and colours of bars on their shoulders. I found out that to get those bars the soldiers should have to act in very responsible manners and go for trainings appointed to them. In general everyone was super friendly and I made new friends. I learnt a lot about the importance of having the Seychelles Coast guards and what exactly they do. I even learnt how to tie ropes something I’ve always wanted to learn. Joshua takes us on his rocky journey. Learn more about the beach rocks at North East Point beach. There is often this misleading concept that Geology is not as important as the other science. Yes, Geologists don’t sit around and split atoms all day or pour chemicals into tubes all the time. But Geologists are important for a country to have. If you would have asked me a few months ago if Geology was important I would have shrugged and implied that the study of rock is not as vital as the study of the human anatomy or the study of medical advancement. I would have been WRONG. Being part of PetroSeychelles for two weeks has shown me a different side to the boulder that was blocking the logic behind the importance of Geology. The subject entails more than just looking at rocks but also helping the people of Seychelles and the economy in the near future. Geologists in Seychelles (at Petro Seychelles) they oversee the changes that the Seychelles go through. They monitor the coast as well as the hills. Not to steer away from the question but a well-told story is better told from the beginning. Seychelles is an Archipelago in the middle of the Indian ocean. While it is ahead in beauty and uniqueness because of its granite rocks and its pristine species and atmosphere it has taken a considerable amount of years to reach the level of development it has at the moment. While some of the development are vital and important for the advancement of the country in various aspects. Human activity and its impacts on the environment is obviously present. I’m guessing you already knew that because you’ve heard or read about it, and I believe you also know that every action has its reaction. At PetroSeychelles they are also often tasked with reviewing and analyzing the causes of natural disasters and its future outcome. What they have observed is the lack of proper planning when developing certain parts of Seychelles (Yes, it may not have a direct effect on the environment at the moment but it does in the long term) No one can really be blamed for some of the roads because most of them were built ‘back in the days’ during the first developments. Cutting slopes for development such as roads can impact and result in the future of debris flow or any other type of mass movement. The geologists are tasked with finding alternative ways to help prevent any future major incident like the ongoing incident at Vista Do Mar. While I may refer to Vista Domar in future vlogs, a short summary of what is actually happening in Vista Do Mar should get that question mark of curiosity away from your brain. Vista-Do-Mar is located at Glacis. Some may refer to it as a small village or a sub-district. Vista Do Mar is believed to have been built on a previous landslide moving downhill towards the coast. The landslide could have happened years ago. Though to the naked eye it doesn’t appear to be a landslide (its really steep but Seychelles is not a flat country, so really how can you tell!!!). Geologically it has all the features that a landslide does. With more settlement and more construction, the soil is starting to move downhill due to the added weight which stimulates movement towards the coast. This movement has a negative effect to the houses and villas in that area. The infrastructures are compromised and it will be hazardous if we experience heavy rainfall in the future, because rain adds more weight to the mass movement. (There was a case of heavy rainfall in the past but I’m already past my word amount) The movement is slow but it’s happening. Something I have also made sense of since I’ve been here, that even though you don’t see something happening right this very second, that doesn’t mean that it is not happening. Vista Do Mar is not the only case that they had to analyze and study, there are other multiple places around the islands. Why limit your choices? Geologist can be a job undertaken in the future because there are a demand for Geologist when someone wants to build a house or project and they want their structure to stand for as long as possible. Don’t be afraid to expand your horizon. Written by Joshua Sofola When you take a look around you’ll find a large variety of living things in all shapes and sizes. But are you aware of the whole other world of microscopic living organisms? Too small for the naked eye to register yet teeming with invisible life. How can you not when they are VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE?
During the second week of my #BEinternship here at the Seychelles Bureau of Standard (SBS) I was placed in the Microbiology Laboratory for two days. After gearing up in my lab coat and gloves, the two lab personnel (Mr. Lewis and Ms. Underwood) gave me a break down of their daily tasks, some info about some equipment that they use and the different kinds of tests that they do. On that bright Monday and Tuesday morning inside the well-equipped lab, there were a variety of samples already waiting to be tested. These included… -raw fishes (frozen of course for health and safety reasons regarding ‘Histamine’ which I explained in my first blog) -water used in ice manufacturing plants to make ice for storing of fishes -sea water -water from sewage treatment plant … Just to name a few But “What is it that they test for in those samples?” you might ask… In the MB Lab they used the different samples for APC (Aerobic Plate Count) test and testing for a variety of microorganisms (mainly bacteria class 1 and 2) such as E-Coli and Salmonella. Two microorganisms which I’m sure that you’ve probably heard of but they also test for others, some with names that I can’t even pronounce. While the different types of culture medias which would then be used as a nutrition source for growth of microorganisms’ colonies where being melted on the hot plates then placed in the water bath for cooling, I helped with the preparations for the experiment like labeling the petri dishes, pouring the agar jellies into the petri dishes and so on. After several procedures, the petri dishes containing the culture medias with the microorganisms were finally ready to be incubated for 24 or even 48 hrs. In the mean time we head over to the room next door containing autoclaves (equipment used for sterilization) and dishwasher. I had to micropipette sodium thiosulphate into several sampling bottles that once contained chlorine water probably from a pool or tap water. This compound act as a ‘suppressive agent’ used to neutralize the chlorine residue in the bottles before placed in the autoclaves. Good housekeeping practices had to be maintained at all times and we always had to use ethanol to disinfect the benches after use. These were done as a way to help minimise the risk of contamination. Great skills and focus is required to do the test as the microorganisms may be small but they are mighty. If you were to ingest contaminated food or water containing either salmonella bacteria, E-Coli bacteria or another food borne illness you’d without a doubt end up experiencing several symptoms from the infection mainly involving the gut like severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting etc… The reasons why they performed these tests on a daily basis (+ confirmation tests afterward) are not only to ensure our safety in terms of food consumption but also as an organisation that’s registered and being accredited by the ISO, it is crucial that the tests done are on an international standard especially because the fishes and fish products we produce here in Seychelles are mostly being exported to countries all around the world especially in the EU. Written by : Camilla Labonte My two weeks at the SEC not only allowed me to understand the general concept of the RE project but also gave me an insight into the more technical areas which helped broaden my perspective of it.
The GOS-UNDP-GEF Resource Efficiency (RE) project aims towards building a more sustainable future for Seychelles by increasing resource efficient technologies and practices. It is transforming and strengthening the market of resource efficient products and services. After a door to door survey last year which was based on collecting information about various households’ energy consumption, the project could move on to its second stage which is where it is currently at. This part of the project requires data to be collected first hand by the SEC, from 50 chosen houses, using special devices. At the end of the year long stage the data can be compared with the results from stage one and can be used to evaluate future progress. I was made familiar with the devices as I would encounter them on my visit that afternoon and I was even taught how to use the program so that I could retrieve the data myself. Unfortunately even such organised projects do not come without setbacks and we did experience a slight problem on site as the program failed to present data but thanks to Mr Denis the issue was resolved and we could get back to work. By the end of the day I definitely had a better perspective of the project. On the second day of my internship, Tuesday 6th, I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop at Savoy on the SEEREP loan and Energy Efficient lending (I suggest everyone take a look at). This opportunity enabled me to acquire an even greater perspective of the RE project as a whole. The presentation was well organised and provided lots of description and details covering important points such as barriers which may affect the project’s progress and solutions to overcome them. There was even a part of the presentation dedicated to the identification of valid technologies for the loan. Others parts of the workshop talked about the market segments, market potential and how banks and clients can overcome financial risks followed by practical examples and case studies. Although it was mainly aimed at banks I found great interest in what was being presented. The full day workshop was an exciting experience for me and I would like to thank Mr Tony for the opportunity. Nikita Rennie The past two weeks has been nothing but a blur. Time really does go fast when you’re having fun. I still remember Saturday 03rd December like it was just yesterday. That was when the Blue Economy Internship Program officially kicked off. Time flew like it was nothing and it is now my last day as a #BEintern at SMSA. I was fortunate enough to be place there, as I have learned so many new aspects of the blue economy and what the marine sector of Seychelles really entails. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have enjoyed myself as much as I did at SMSA. It was really an amazing, thought provoking experience. So a very big thank you to whomever placed me there and especially to Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration for hosting me and my fellow intern buddy Nathanielle, we really did appreciate this opportunity.
So the main things that I enjoyed this past two weeks were:
Finally, the moment I was waiting and dreading for was to pilot Costa neoRomantica out of Port onwards to her next destination. So after a really hot lunch break, it was refreshing to board Pilot Merle, breathing in the fresh air of the ocean. The bitter sweet moment came way to fast. The horn on neoRomantica started to blow and the ropes keeping the ship steady at port was unfastened and the engine began to roar. The next step for the ship was to start moving out of port in a parallel manner on its starboard side and this was a jaw dropping moment for me. Who knew that such a big ship could do that? This is possible by the thrusters available which allows this kind of movement. After that I had the best view of all, I had a front seat of all the action¸ waving goodbye to all the “Romanticas”. Watching the ship on board Merle begin its journey at sea was a great way to end my journey with SMSA. I would like to say a big heartwarming thank you to my supervisor Brigitte and Captain Valmont for being such great mentors; you’re both one of the many reasons why I’ve taken a passion for the marine life. Not forgetting Terry and Richard for being great with Nathanielle and I. I wish nothing but great success for the SMSA, who wishes to be transformed into a full fledge authority. There so many thing that the organization wants to achieve but do not have the necessary power to do so. All the best! The sea cucumber harvest is here!! The season kicked off on the 1st October 2016 and closes June 2017. The fishermen are seizing the opportunity as sea cucumber is of high market value with soaring chance for earnings. My first week of internship I was able to capture the different stages leading up to exportation of the species, through site visits and interviews.
It is at the brink of dawn that the divers gear up to begin their harvest; I was assigned along with the inspection officers from the Seychelles Fishing authority (SFA) to be on site. The fishermen were required to fill in the sea cucumber departure form before heading out to sea. The form contained important information such as the names of the crew members, the estimated date for landing and the necessary equipment. We were also required to be present for the unloading of the sea cucumbers, the logbook of the boat owner was verified and the amount and weight of the different sea cucumbers was recorded. I was amazed to know the different names of the species, the most common being Flower Teat and White Teat. The sea cucumber was then transferred to one of the 4 main processing factories in Seychelles. I managed to visit one of the factories called Providence Sea Cucumber located at Providence. The sea cucumbers were being boiled in salt in order to be left dry for 3 months before it is ready for export. In the presence of concerned authorities, the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), Environment officer, the SFA inspectors along with the owner of the factory gathered information to make sure that the correct quantity of the different species weere being packed and sealed for shipment. It is to my understanding that the blue economy is really vast, the different sectors however all work together to achieve one common goal, and that I believe is a great initiative. I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to intern at the SFA and broaden my knowledge on the different sectors within the organisation. The highlight remains my research on the sea cucumber, it is therefore with great pleasure that I share this information with you today. Written by Nathalie Young What is climate change?
“…a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels…” Yes. This is part of climate change. This is an actual definition of what climate change entails directly from the internet. What this definition doesn’t tell you is that climate change is a dynamic process that has begun to happen since the beginning of time. Yes. Humans are catalyzing the reaction but there is nothing unusual about the climate changing. Climate change is a natural process that the earth goes through over and over again. While climate change might be a natural phenomenon, human impact also has its role to play in it. Human impacts do not only speed up the process of climate change but we also pollute the ocean and deface the coast. Yes, we do affect the coast. Without realizing it, we are changing the shape and the natural structures that the coast holds. While at North east pint on a field trip during the two-week internship, it was clearly pointed out how the road that seems harmless and helpful is a cause for coastal erosion in those parts. At North East point, it is quite clear that there are what we would refer to as corals on the beach (those huge rock structures that cannot be moved) these are called beach rock and this is evidence that the coast has eroded and that the water level or water course is not as it used to be. Constructing over rivers, and preventing it to take its natural course therefore affecting the structures close to it or further down the mouth. A domino effect could also be created by reclaiming an island without the proper geological data. Sand move from one place to another, retreating from its usual course, it can also affect the wave direction thus changing the wave action and creating a large impact somewhere else. Yes. We are humans. Yes, we need to live and yes life is made easier with smooth accessible road and more land to build on, but the proper data should be collected before any mass development takes place. Data from years and years of study from Geologist and field specific scientists. After all this is our islands and whatever happens to it impacts all of our lives. You may not see the difference today but it might take root in the future. The concept of the Blue Economy should also apply when it comes to development because we can’t expect resources from the ocean if we are destroying its ecosystem one brick at a time. Not managing storm waters and not building houses to standards may affect the ocean. In what way, you ask. Think about this. The rain falls hard, you have no planned way of managing water that falls on your roof, it falls in the soil just below your house and the weight from said water causes the soil to move downhill. Downhill it eventually reaches the ocean. Yes, a right amount of debris provides some minerals for the sea but too much debris might reduce the clarity and react in excess to corals in the sea or any other species. Too much of anything is not good!!! Seychelles is too delicate to be tempered with. That’s why my message is to encourage everyone. Starting from the youth to the elderly, to gain knowledge or choose any career in the blue economy or that has any slight relations to the concept. “The ocean has no limits” (none that I know of at least) Cheers!!! Joshua Sofola |
AuthorThe interns of the Prosperity & Environment: Promoting sustainable development opportunities for youth in the Blue Economy sector. Archives
January 2018
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