Marine protections have worked, but with 90% of the population crowded on one island, Seychelles must now build a future without breaking the coast.
Debt for Dolphins
Tides swell against the white-sand coastline of Seychelles, where fishermen rise before the sun and developers wait for permits that may never come. At first glance, this archipelago seems like a conservation success story. Over 400,000 square kilometers of its marine territory are now protected, more than the size of Germany. This didn’t happen by accident. The country exchanged debt for protection, launched blue bonds, and committed to ocean health in ways few others have dared. But behind the global praise is a quieter tension.
Urban population growth lingers at 0.63%, one of the lowest in the region. Tourism, construction, and coastal housing—the very sectors meant to drive prosperity—are often boxed in by zoning and conservation priorities. You start to wonder: Is the blueprint for marine protection also a ceiling on economic expansion? Across Africa, leaders are watching. Some see Seychelles as a bold. . .
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