Mr Oldfield receives his "Public's choice" award from Minister Jumeau

Mr Michaud (left) receives his reward for best image shot in Seychelles

Local and international environment conservationists rejoiced at the Subios Village on Saturday October 18, as they took stock of major strides that Seychelles had made towards preserving marine life during the immediate past week.

As Subios (Sub-Indian Ocean Seychelles) Underwater Festival drew to a close, Environment Minister Ronny Jumeau highlighted some of the events that made the period from October 11 to October 18 "quite a week for marine-based tourism and conservation," besides the Subios Festival itself.

"On Saturday we arrested a fishing boat for poaching turtles, on Monday UNDP announced a US$270,000 project to assess Seychelles capacity needs in meeting our obligations under multilateral environment conventions and Thursday saw the Island Conservation Society take over the management of Aride Island.

Minister Jumeau also reported before divers who came from different countries of Europe, US and Africa that "since January this year, the Whale shark is protected in all 1.4 million square kilometres of the Indian Ocean that belong to us."

Minister Jumeau then announced ongoing efforts to ban shark finning in Seychelles waters, saying that his ministry was working closely towards that end with Seychelles Fishing Authority "again together with the ministry responsible for marine resources."

He said the proposed ban would therefore be part of a comprehensive shark management plan and conservation strategy that would be presented to Cabinet before the end of the year.

The minister was speaking after presenting Mr Charles Oldfield from UK with the "Public's choice" award for his video entitled The shrimp and the goby.

Other winners of the various Subios Festival contests were Mr Andrea Maggi from Italy who was rewarded for the best video shot in Seychelles. Messrs Oldfield and Maggi's works won second and third prizes respectively in the video contest category that saw Mr Leandro Blanco win first prize.

In the photo shoot out contest, Mr Ian Jones of Louisiana, USA, won first prize while Mr Laurent Levy of Praslin, Seychelles, got second prize with Ms Fiona McIntosh of South Africa winning third prize.

Mr Ian Cartwright from UK was awarded the "Public's choice" award in the digital and slides images category while Mr Paul Michaud from Seychelles got his reward for the best image shot in Seychelles.

Mr Alan James from UK got first prize award in the digital photography category as Mr Paul Michaud won second prize and Mr Alan James from UK received third prize.

Mr Mirko Zanni from Switzerland won both first and second prizes for his entries in the slide photography category where Mr Ian Cartwright from UK won third prize.

In the schools' poem, art and story competitions the first prize winners in their respective categories were Emile Ernesta of Praslin School, Sarah Maurer of Seychelles Polytechnic, Jade Johnson of Independent School. Channel Azemia of Beau Vallon School, Armann Shah of Independent School, Thyra Faure of Anse Royale School, Terina Madeleine of Plaisance School, Helena Sims of Seychelles Polytechnic and Andy Alvis of La Retraite School.

Second prize winners in their respective categories were Juliette Zelime, Steven Rose of National Institute of Education (NIE), Brigitte Gbilimon and Ethel Melie of Mont Fleuri Secondary, Malshini Senaratne of Anse Boileau School, Daryl Sinon of Anse aux Pins, Stephanie Franchette of Glacis School, Camille Frichot of Independent School and Noella Mussard of Seychelles Polytechnic.

Third position winners were Ramy Ernesta of NIE, Tony Lablache of Praslin Secondary, Nandiata Nair of International School, Insuru Walpolo of Anse Boileau Secondary, Fabio Fabienne of Independent School, Sophia Hoareau of Plaisance School, Martina Madeleine of Plaisance School and Steven Servina of Plaisance Primary School.

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