The overall objective of this project is to identify and demonstrate new management approaches and techniques for the Mascarene Plateau. This specific demonstration will focus on the newly-established Joint Management Area (JMA) between Mauritius and Seychelles for the Continental Shelf in the Mascarene region, as well as the associated Contiguous Adjacent High Seas Areas. This will need to address some of the unique management challenges associated with such an extended continental shelf area. The two governments will now have to jointly manage large portions of the seabed (often significantly greater than their current EEZs), whilst recognizing that the water column above this sovereign seabed falls under the definition of High Seas (as defined by the Law of the Sea Convention) and is therefore beyond their jurisdiction.

The primary intention of such support would be to assist in the development of a management mechanism which demonstrates and institutionalizes co-management and co-existence of the various activities of the multiple sectors and stakeholders operating within or benefiting from this ocean space. The Mauritius-Seychelles Joint Management Committee has established 5 Strategic Objectives related to the development of an institutional framework, technical capacity, data acquisition in support of adaptive management and a blue ocean economy approach, along with multi-sector, multi-use planning. This project will provide direct support to achieving these objectives and capture lessons and best practices for the global LME community.

Lessons learned and management techniques demonstrated may be replicated both within the western Indian Ocean as well as throughout the global LMEs.