During the Commission of Inquiry, and were invited to bring their professional… (8/11)

JAN 28 2026 · 20:23

During the Commission of Inquiry, @the_fish_dr, @jeanneamortimer and @rich_in_nature were invited to bring their professional scientific perspective to the Assomption Island hotel development. Their testimonies touch on the following points of concern: 🏗️ The scale of construction and the lack of studies assessing whether the island can safely support so much concrete (Assomption is a coral island, not solid granite like the Inner Islands of Seychelles, it’s a very different kind of ground to build on). 🌊 Gaps in how Assomption’s sea turtle habitat was assessed in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), despite turtles being key indicators of ecosystem health. 🚢 Biosecurity procedures that failed to be applied during the construction phase. This raises serious questions about long-term management of biosecurity of an operational hotel. ✈️ Noise pollution and collision risks linked to increased air traffic, and the impact this could have on bird populations. 🌍 Confirmation that a project next to a UNESCO World Heritage Site warrants an international-level ESIA. 🌿 The need for a full, 1-year biodiversity assessment while construction is paused. i.e. not done simultaneously. 🕳️ Concerns around Assomption’s hydrology, karst system, caves and sinkholes, and the unknown consequences of backfilling them. These scientific testimonies confirm that the many environmental concerns raised in the past year and a half were not unfounded. You can watch the public inquiry sessions via @sbc.sc’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SBCSeychelles/streams #ProtectAssomption #ProtectAldabra #Seychelles