On September 8th, 2018, Mr. Kristijan Curavic, Ocean Alliance Conservation Member (OACM) President, has awarded H.E. Danny Faure, President of Seychelles, and Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change with the first White Flag in Republic of Seychelles. The Beau Vallon beach has been awarded after the cleanup conducted by WhiteFlag International Diving Inspectors presenting the first White Flag Certified Safe Marine Area (CSMA) in Seychelles.
"Republic of Seychelles is an ideal destination in the world which is suitable as an example for the White Flag and OACM. Seychelles presents an example to other world's island countries on how the ocean should be treated, protected and preserved, because of its beauty and because of its sea bottom which is completely plastic-free. This represents a historical change in a global tourism industry - for no longer it will be sufficient to rely on promotion of luxury accommodation and facilities without taking concrete measures aimed towards ocean cleaning and protection by providing White Flag CSMAs to tourists and inhabitants who use the ocean for their various daily activities", said Mr. Kristijan Curavic, OACM President.
"We recognize the importance of protecting our beaches and our ocean, as they are not only important for the tourism industry, but vital for healthy lifestyle and protection of human and aquatic life. I hope that tourism sector will use this opportunity and take the most of what this certification has to offer", Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change concluded.
WhiteFlag International is looking forward to certifying most of the Mahe island and other islands in Seychelles together with the corporate sector, with the support of Mr. Wallace Cosgrow (Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change), Mr. Didier Dogley (Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine), and Mr. Maurice Loustau Lalanne (Minister of Finance, Trade Investment and Economic Planning).
The White Flag award ceremony took place at the Beau Vallon beach, one of the most famous beaches in Seychelles. The ceremony has gathered around 50 participants, including high-level representatives from the Government of Seychelles. The cleanup of the Beau Vallon beach was conducted during the week September 3rd – 7th, 2018, by WhiteFlag International Diving Inspectors accompanied by local divers from Blue Sea Divers center.
