Former President of the Republic and Executive Chairman of the James Michel Foundation has been appointed a founding member of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Ambassadors, a small group of global leaders who will work with the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project to advocate for the creation of large marine protected areas.

Mr. Michel’s appointment was announced on the side of the ‘Our Ocean Conference in Bali, Indonesia this afternoon.

The other members of this group include: former US Secretary of State, John Kerry; former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron; former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Chile, Heraldo Muñoz; and former Senator from Guam; Carlotta Leon Guerrero.

In making the announcement, the Co-President of the Berterelli Legacy, Dona Bertarelli said “the ambassadors are committed to promoting marine conservation, especially large scale Marine Protected Areas and are global leaders who have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the ocean”.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Michel says he is encouraged by the recognition of the role he has and continues to play globally towards the protection of our ocean. “I have devoted much of my life to marshal a new era of sustainability and prosperity for our oceans by championing causes such as the Blue Economy and marine protected areas. The Blue Economy is not simply about making greater use of the sea, or more commercial fishing, but about making better use of it. In this economy, the sustainability of ocean resources is recognised as critical to global economic growth” he adds.

The announcement came on the same day that the Seychelles has launched its Sovereign Blue Bond to raise private investment to finance a transition to sustainable activities and practices by the domestic fishery, in particular, the implementation of the Marine Plateau demersal fisheries management Plan. The bond which is the first in the world was initiated during Mr. Michel’s administration along with the World Bank and Prince Charles Charity. The world Bank congratulated Mr. Michel for the initiative and the government for seeing it to this day.