Collaboration in the joint management area

Seychelles and Mauritius have launched joint oil exploration efforts in the Mascarene Plateau, an extended continental shelf area shared by both nations. This announcement came during a meeting of the technical committee for the Joint Commission overseeing the region.

The first step in the exploration process involves a multi-client study, which includes a seismic survey to identify potential oil reserves. Philippe Michaud, co-chair of the commission, stated that discussions are ongoing with a company interested in conducting the survey. Once the study is complete, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will follow before any infrastructure is installed.

The joint management area, which covers parts of the seabed and subsoil of the Mascarene Plateau, was established through a unique agreement between the two island nations. Importantly, this agreement excludes the water column and living organisms above the seabed. In 2012, both countries secured rights to an additional 400,000 square kilometers of seabed in the Indian Ocean after a joint submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

This collaboration created the world’s first Joint Management Area (JMA), setting a precedent for shared jurisdiction over maritime resources. A joint commission will coordinate the exploration, preservation, and sustainable development of the region’s seabed resources, including both living and non-living entities.