The sicklefin lemon shark Negaprion acutidens is a large-bodied (> 3m) coastal shark species, widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific waters. Despite its large size and wide distribution, very little is known about its movement behaviour throughout ontogeny. The primary aim of this thesis was to gain an understanding of the movements of sub-adult N. acutidens, in and around the St. Joseph Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, to facilitate the effective conservation of this vulnerable species. A total of 22 sharks (139 – 202 cm TL) were equipped with coded acoustic transmitters and passively monitored using moored acoustic receivers for a period of 20 month from March 2009 to October 2010. The use of passive acoustic telemetry arrays to study behavioural ecology has increased in popularity in recent years and been successfully applied to study a host of teleost and elasmobranch species in a diversity of habitats, ranging from sheltered estuaries to the offshore pelagic environment. However, the practicalities of designing an effective network of receivers to optimally monitor animal movements can be challenging. In this study the receiver array was optimised through a series of incremental steps to achieve an efficient design that allowed for the specific objectives to be addressed. The specific objectives of this study were to i) gain an understanding of the long term space use patterns and site fidelity of sub-adult N. acutidens within degree of use of the St. Joseph Atoll lagoon and surrounding habitats, and ii) investigate their short term behavioural patterns in response to natural rhythmic cycles. The important role the atoll plays in the sub-adult stage of this species was demonstrated by the very low numbers of detections outside the atoll compared to the very large numbers of detections inside the atoll. Over the course of a year the tagged sharks showed a high degree of site fidelity to the atoll, with 79 – 100% of the individuals detected during each month and 50% being detected on a near daily basis. This result provides testimony of the nursery role of the atoll and importance of these habitats in the early life history for this species. Individual area use was generally found to be restricted to the eastern part of the atoll incorporating a portion of the central deep lagoon and a nearby adjacent area of the sand flats. The movements of sub-adult N. acutidens on and off of the shallow flats surrounding the central lagoon (likely for foraging) were found to be strongly influenced by the tidal height and the diel cycle. Tagged sharks were found to utilise the flats more regularly when the tidal height was greater than 90 cm and particularly more so during the night and early morning than during daylight times. The combined results of this study expose the vulnerability of this species to rapid local depletion. Similarly, the effectiveness of spatial management measures, such as no-take marine protected areas is highlighted as an efficient tool for the future conservation of this species. In the St. Joseph Atoll in particular, the use of a multi-levelled protection approach, where the eastern portion on the atoll is completely restricted while the remaining area is utilized for non-consumptive tourism activities, could be highly effective. Future research should investigate changes in area use throughout the ontogeny of this species as well improve the understanding of the breeding site fidelity and population size of reproductive females using the St. Joseph Atoll.

The evolutionary ecology and population sytematics of the genus Phelsuma (Gekkonidae) were studied in the Seychelles. The distributions of all 18 Seychelles lizard species are described. These give little evidence for species turnover or the equilibrium model of island biogeography. Aspects of Phelsuma behaviour, social systems and reproduction were investigated. Phelsuma can digest pollen, which, with nectar may constitute a large part of the diet. On Praslin, P.sundbergi and P.astriata breed throughout the year, and partition their macro-habitat, micro-habitat and food resource dimensions such that P.sundbergi mainly occupies nectiferous and polliniferous palms and larger hardwood trees, whilst the smaller P.astriata is found on non-flowering palms and smaller trees. Interspecific competition is demonstrated by population density and habitat shifts between populations on islands in sympatry and allopatry. The biomass of Phelsuma geckos supported by coconut plantations in sympatric and allopatric situations tends to be relatively constant, such that there are either more small geckos or fewer large geckos. It is suggested that large body size is an adaptation to the defence of predictable and defensible food sources, such as palm flowers. Racial differention was investigated by multivariate morphometrics of shape, scalation and colouration, using appropriate techniques to negate ontogenetic effects. In the granitic islands, three phenetic aggregations of island populations were identified in the P.madagascariensis group, and two aggregations in the P.astriata group. Conventional taxonomic methods have failed to illustrate these patterns of phenetic variation, and new classification of island populations is proposed. Primary patterns of racial differentiation appear to have arisen from the sectioning of pre-existing clinal variation by rising Holocene sea levels, while secondary patterns relate to recent ecological selection pressures. P.abbotti populations on Aldabra and Assumption are sub-specifically distinct and not conspecific with granitic island forms. P.laticauda on the Farquhar group are probably not subspecifically distinct from Madagascan populations. All other coralline island populations appear to be recent introductions from the granitic islands.

This study is a result of a participation in the Minor Field Study program where we interviewed inhabitants in Mahé, Seychelles, about environmental awareness and information sources and/or channels. Seychelles has a distinguished environment to preserve and protect for the sake of both human and nature and public awareness plays an important part in upholding this. Our aim with this thesis is to study the inhabitants' self-assessed awareness and perceptions regarding availability of information on environmental issues in Seychelles. Furthermore we hope that a by-product of our study will be an addition to the ongoing discussion and knowledge development regarding the global environmental and climate issues. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted and T. D. Wilson's information behaviour model from 1996 was used as theoretical framework when analysing the material. The results show a varied range of self-assessed awareness and perceptions regarding environmental issues and the availability of relevant information and information sources and/or channels.

Thesis (M. Sc. Ed.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). "January 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-109). Also available via the World Wide Web.

This study examines the difference in perception of a character in a male and a female guise amongst university students in Seychelles, and elaborates on how such difference reflects gender hierarchies in general. The students were given a questionnaire consisting of five scenarios, in which two or more characters communicated, and then answered questions about their perception of the characters. The character’s gender mattered to how he/she was perceived for at least one of the characters in the dialogue, in four of the scenarios, and in one scenario there was no difference in perception of the male guise and the female guise. The biggest difference in perception of a male guise and female guise was in a scenario in which one character commented on his/her colleague’s appearance. The male guise was perceived more negatively both when commenting and when rejecting such comment. However, the space in which the interaction took place, and the relationship between the characters influenced how they were perceived. So, when a group of people commented on an unknown person’s appearance, on the beach, the respondents perceived both the male guise and the female guise of the character similarly both as commenters and as receivers of the comment.

Bonefish (Albula spp.) support valuable recreational and artisanal fisheries worldwide. Declining stocks have been reported at multiple localities, potentially jeopardising numerous multimillion-dollar industries. In particular, tourism generated through bonefish fly fishing contributes considerably to the economies of many isolated tropical islands and atolls. However, despite their economic value, little is known about bonefish in the Indian Ocean. This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of bonefish ecology in the Indian Ocean by (1) reviewing the bonefish literature to identify knowledge gaps; (2) evaluating the postrelease survival of acoustically tagged bonefish and; (3) quantifying the spatial and temporal movements of bonefish at a near-pristine and predator rich atoll in the Seychelles. A review of published literature on bonefish indicated that despite considerable biological and ecological research in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, virtually no research has been conducted in the Indian Ocean. To help address this research gap, an acoustic telemetry study was initiated at the remote St. Joseph Atoll, within an existing array of 88 automated datalogging acoustic receivers. Thirty Albula glossodonta were surgically implanted with Vemco V13 acoustic transmitters in May 2015 and tracked for a period of one year. Only 10% of the tagged bonefish were detected for more than two weeks. A comparison of the final 100 hours of movement data from fish that were detected for less than two weeks to fish detected for longer periods revealed distinct differences. These included differences in area use patterns and significant differences in the average daily distance moved, speed of movement and residency index. This suggested that mortality in the form of post-release predation was high (90%) with tagged fish detected for less than two weeks being preyed upon by sharks. The three surviving bonefish were tracked for 210 to 367 days. These individuals remained in the atoll and showed high use of the marginal habitats between the shallow sand flats and the deeper lagoon. Water temperature, diel cycle and tide were significant predictors of bonefish presence in the lagoon. The high post-release predation of bonefish has implications for the management of this and other Albula species. Despite these fisheries being catch-and-release, bonefish fishing may be unsustainable due to the high post-release mortality, particularly in areas that are rich in predators. Therefore, protected areas or limitations on fishing effort need to be considered.

Master of Public Health - MPH / Teenage childbearing interferes with girls' educational attainment in many settings, as it frequently marks the end of their schooling. While the right to education is guaranteed in the Constitution and its Education Act of 2004, which include clauses supportive of girls' continuing their education during pregnancy and after childbirth, data show that many teenage girls do not return to school after childbirth. According to official figures, 10 out of 18 teenage mothers in the Seychelles did not return to school in 2013. A young girl terminating her education early because of pregnancy may have negative social, economic and health consequences for the individual and for the Seychelles as a country. To avoid the negative consequences that may result from pregnant teenage girls not completing school, it is important to explore the facilitating and hindering factors to young mothers returning to school after childbirth in the Seychelles. This research aimed to explore the factors that influence teenage mothers to return to school after childbirth in Seychelles. A qualitative research methodology was used, where in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve young women who were teenage mothers, and with four key informants. Amongst the young women, six had returned to school after childbirth, and six had not return to school after childbirth. The key informants were professionals including a school counsellor, a schoolteacher, a counsellor working with young mothers, as well as a professional working with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that targets out of school young pregnant girls. Purposive sampling was used to access the research participants. The content of the interviews was transcribed and then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that there were numerous factors influencing a young mother’s decision to return to school after childbirth in Seychelles. These were not limited to individual level factors such as the internal motivation of the young mothers to achieve a better future for themselves and their child, but also included other immediate and broader influential factors. Family support was crucial in determining whether a young mother would return to school after childbirth. Furthermore, the school environment was not always conducive to the retention of the teenage mothers, as often teachers’ attitudes, the rigid grade system and school uniform policy acted as deterrents for those young girls’ school return. Additionally, the school policy for pregnant learners and teenage mothers, and the lack of welfare assistance, were other hindering factors to the young women's return to school. These factors were often interconnected, and collectively impacted on those teenage mothers' decision to return to school. Teenage mothers and their children are two vulnerable groups in society. Pregnant girls dropping out of school after delivery can contribute to the chain of poverty in Seychelles, as this leads to their having lower educational attainment, reduced employment and career development opportunities. To address the issue of teenage mothers not returning to school after childbirth in Seychelles, it is important to have better mechanisms that will together tackle the multiple factors influencing their return to school. This involves adopting a health promotion approach using the Ottawa Charter. This would be done by adopting healthy policies and creating a supportive school environment with regard to teenage mothers and pregnant learners and would include the Ministry of Education working in partnership with other sectors so as to adopt a comprehensive approach to teenage mothers and schooling.

yes / International tourism is now the predominant industry driving growth in many small island developing states (SIDS). Governments of small islands in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean and Pacific have seemingly put most of their eggs into one development basket – the all-inclusive holiday in a luxury hotel, resort or cruise ship. While this industry generates employment, foreign direct investment, and income for island governments and the private sector, it also brings with it dependencies which are borne from the transnational ownership of these all-inclusive accommodations, the risks from exogenous factors – many of which are tied to the wider security of the global system – as well as the domestic economies in the source markets in Europe and North America. We reflect upon these dependencies and risks through a case study of the Seychelles based on fieldwork research conducted in 2012. Our findings highlight that the international tourism industry in the Seychelles – even in a situation of high or growing demand – creates structurally driven precarity for tourism workers who are predominantly low paid, low-skilled, and increasingly recruited from overseas. These findings provide new evidence that contributes to the growing research into tourism in IPE. Our findings highlight the precarious condition of labour in this fast growing service sector of the world economy and in so doing also adds much needed empirical insights from the South to recent debates about an emerging precariat in contemporary capitalism.

Thèse--Lettres--Aix-Marseille II, 1976. / Bibliogr. p. I-LXIV.

Using the case study of 21st century Piracy as it affects the small islands archipelagic state of the Seychelles, this paper sets the stage for a broader discussion on the sovereignty of small island states in international law. Sovereignty can be viewed through different lenses; sovereignty denied considers the many challenges faced by small island states and their claim to the traditional concept of sovereignty, as promoted during the decolonisation era and projected by the right of self determination. On the other hand sovereignty can also be yielded by small island states, where the jurisdiction of the state becomes a resource. This is demonstrated through the degree of international assistance afforded to the Seychelles in dealing with pirates and more generally, through the development of offshore companies in small island states. Consequently, this paper suggests that international law is both the problem and solution to the sovereignty of small island states.