The Coastal Wetlands & Climate Change project, undertaken by the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Fund, aims to provide more scientific data on Seychelles’ seagrass as well as raise awareness on its benefits.

The main obstacle in engaging the population to have concern over the protection of seagrass was the fact that there was no creole name for seagrass. Several unofficial terms were used by fishermen and conservationists in reference to seagrass and its lifeforms – but non of them were official.

The project launched a national campaign to engage the nation to participate in naming seagrass and its five lifeforms. The campaign ran over social media platforms, the radio and in newspapers.

The outreach approach with local fishermen was harder given Covid-19 restrictions of movement. District administrators were mobilised to help circulate physical forms and to help fishermen fill them in. 

The exercise proved to be a ‘fun’ way to get information as well as to raise awareness on seagrass.