In this episode, Helena Sims, Project Lead for the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) at The Nature Conservancy, shares insights into the plan’s development, its impact, and the future of marine conservation in Seychelles.

On March 26, 2025, Seychelles celebrated a significant milestone - five years since designating 30% of its waters as Marine Protection Areas (MPAs). This achievement positioned Seychelles as one of the first countries to reach this global conservation target, a full decade ahead of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) deadline.

The journey began in 2012, when the Seychelles government pledged to protect 30% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as part of an innovative strategy to secure conservation funding. Following extensive negotiations, a debt-for-nature swap was finalised in 2016, with a key condition: the creation of a Marine Spatial Plan to guide and implement marine protection efforts. To bring this vision to life, Seychelles partnered with the international NGO The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to develop the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP).

In this episode, we continue our journey into the arts as we speak with a young and talented poet from the Seychelles, Abigail Joubert.

For some context, Abigail comes from a family of poets. Her father, known by the stage name Raspyek, is a celebrated poet in Seychelles, and her aunt, Stephanie Joubert, is also well-known for her work in poetry. Abigail herself is currently in her final year of post-secondary school and has recently published her first collection of poems, Converse.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with French actor and filmmaker Nicolas Vanbeveren, who joined us while on holiday in his native Seychelles. Born to a Seychellois mother and a French father, Nicolas moved to France at a very young age. Growing up, he discovered a deep passion for acting, which would later shape his career.

Nicolas has appeared in acclaimed productions such as Belgravia, Those About to Die, and NCIS. On a warm, sunny morning, I sat down with him to explore the inspiration behind his journey into acting and what keeps him driven in his craft.