Fregate Island

Blancpain's relation to the Seychelles debuted in 2015 when Blancpain, as founding partner of National Geographic's Pristine Seas, supported a scientific expedition to the Seychelles Outer Islands. Results included a detailed science report for the Seychelles Government, which contributed to the recent increase of its marine protection to 410'000 square kilometers, a full 30% of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone. Moreover, in 2017, The Economist and Blancpain, as founding partner of theWorld Ocean Summit, have awarded the Ocean Innovation Challenge to the Seychelles Blue Bond project, the world’s firstdebt refinancing for ocean conservation. The project resulted in a $21.6 M payment of foreign debt in exchange for in-country financing for long-term conservation and commitment to develop a marine spatial plan that included the 30% goal.