Seychelles Breweries and the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), a local non-government organisation involved in environmental conservation, have teamed up to safeguard the sea turtle nesting area at Anse Bazarka, Takamaka.

The beach is a popular nesting site for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle and the endangered green turtle, two species which the MCSS has been monitoring since 2004.

The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to solidify their partnership during a ceremony held yesterday on site at Anse Bazarka.

The MoU was signed by the managing director of Seychelles Breweries, Conor Neiland, and Chris Mason-Parker, the chief executive of the MCSS.

As part of the MoU, Seychelles Breweries also pledged and handed over R50,000 to MCSS for the adoption of the Bazarka beach.

Additionally, Seychelles Breweries employees will be supporting the MCSS in the next hawksbill turtle nesting season through the rehabilitation of the beach and also participating in the egg clutch survival data collection.

Mr Mason-Parker explained that the R50,000 received from Seychelles Breweries will be used for the NGO’s turtle monitoring activities in the south of Mahé.

“We are going to be out here every morning, looking for tracks on the beach, counting the turtles, taking measurements and collecting data on the turtle nesting,” he added.

With erosion on the Anse Bazarka beach causing sand to reach the road, the MCSS team has been building an environmentally-friendly wooden barrier to stop the turtles getting onto the road.

“The number of turtles that nest here fluctuates from one year to the next. Last year we had a particularly good hawksbill turtle nesting season but it can change – climate changes also affect this. The season has only just begun but we are looking forward to seeing how it progresses over the coming months,” said Mr Mason-Parker.

Over the course of the hawksbill nesting season, Anse Bazarka can see anywhere from 40 to 90 female sea turtle emergences in an attempt to nest successfully further up the beach.

The beach fringe vegetation on Anse Bazarka has been severely degraded and so it is hoped that increased community involvement and awareness will play a role in the rehabilitation and conservation of this important turtle nesting beach.

On his part, Mr Neiland stated that the MCSS project was one which Seychelles Breweries felt passionate about since it represents the values that are important to the company.

He noted that issues of environmental conservation and the blue economy are issues that do not exist in silo but rather are relevant to everybody.

“When the opportunity came up, it was something we jumped at and we are very proud of the association that we have and hope that it will be a long-term association,” stated Mr Neiland.

“It is not just about giving money but also about how we can work with the society to ensure we promote its ideals and bring to the forefront what it is doing, publicise it and contribute physically as well.”

MCSS has been operating in Seychelles since 1997 with a special focus on marine research and land-based, coastal issues.

Source: Seychelles Nation