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© A.AGulhas - Filip Kulisev-
Monacœxplorations

A DIPLOMATIC ADVENTURE "The mission has succeeded in bringing our two coun-
tries closer together: although we are neighbours, we
Introduced by the Director General of the Oceanogra- are very far apart," says Jean-François Ferrari, Sey-
phic Institute, Robert Calcagno, the meeting on 21 chelles' Minister for Fisheries, and the Blue Economy,
March opened with an overview of the mission and before adding: "I would like to thank the Principality
its challenges. In the conference room of the Oceano- on behalf of the young Seychelles scientists; this
graphic Museum, speakers stressed the importance mission opens up new prospects for research in the
of regional knowledge and cooperation in the com- Seychelles."
plex geostrategic and socio-economic context of the
Western Indian Ocean.
A CERTIFIED MISSION
The views of the authorities in Mauritius and the
Seychelles emphasised this contribution from the Nick D'Adamo, one of the fourteen international ex-
expedition. "By including Mauritius in this interdisci- perts on the mission's Steering Committee, recalls
plinary programme, the mission has enabled us to the sponsorship of the United Nations Decade of
strengthen our friendship with the Seychelles", says Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development. The
Rezah Badal, Director General of the Department of expedition is also one of the projects approved by
the Continental Shelf for the Administration and Ex- the second International Indian Ocean Expedition, an
ploration of Maritime Zones in the Office of the Prime international scientific programme developed over 10
Minister of Mauritius, who acknowledges: "We are at years (2015-2025).
the centre of a very interesting maritime area, and it is
essential that we protect this zone".