www.bbc.com/future/article/20200803-the-deal-that-…

..the Seychelles signed a unique deal in 2015: almost $22m (£16.8m) of its national debt was written off, in exchange for the country doing more to protect its oceans. "

"..In the five years since, the Seychelles has progressed from protecting...www.bbc.com/future/article/20200803-the-deal-that-…

..the Seychelles signed a unique deal in 2015: almost $22m (£16.8m) of its national debt was written off, in exchange for the country doing more to protect its oceans. "

"..In the five years since, the Seychelles has progressed from protecting 0.04% to 30% of its national waters, covering 410,000 square kilometres (158,000 square miles) of ocean – an area larger than Germany. Fishing, oil exploration and other marine development has been banned or severely restricted in the MPAs. Anyone who carries out illegal activities in these areas faces a hefty fine, or, in some cases, imprisonment."

Less than £17m to protect 158000 square miles of ocean seems incredibly good value - and such low numbers on national debt terms.

Some quick maths later that's £106 per square mile, the surface area of all the world's oceans is about 140 million square miles so that's around £14.8 trillion to protect the whole lot - or roughly ten times our national debt. Show more