The Seychelles president has told Sky News "the time has come to save the oceans" as he called on world leaders to take "decisive action" to increase marine protection.

Danny Faure's island nation is one of many threatened by global warming and whose waters are at risk from plastic pollution.

He spoke to Sky News after making his plea from deep below the ocean's surface inside a submersible, which was used last month by Sky during the first-ever live TV news bulletin broadcast from hundreds of metres down in the Indian Ocean.

Three programmes in March, where Sky collaborated with ocean research institute Nekton, offered a rare glimpse under the waves at Aldabra, one of the Earth's most heavily protected coral atolls, 600 miles southwest of the Seychelles.

'We are a victim of marine debris'

Scientists have estimated there could be 1,000 tonnes of plastic washed up on Aldabra, including tens of thousands of flip-flops.


He told Sky News: "The pollution, the debris, does not come from my country. It comes from elsewhere. We've become a victim of marine debris and pollution. Aldabra needs to be protected."

Mr Faure said his country was "taking the lead" and has pledged that by next year, 30% of the Seychelles' marine waters will be under protection, as he urged fellow world leaders to take similar action.

He said: "I hope other counties realise that if we don't put policies in place in terms of pollution, we'll continue to create the damage we are seeing to our oceans. The time has come for us to save the oceans and my country is doing it.

Deep Ocean Live: What you missed

"I am convinced more than ever before that if countries adopt sound policies - in terms of conservation and preservation - we can have marine protection."

In the submersible, Mr Faure, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, called for more help for the "beating blue heart of our planet".

He said: "This issue is bigger than all of us, and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it.

"We are running out of excuses to not take action, and running out of time."

Only about 5% of the world's oceans are protected, and countries have agreed to double the area to 10% by 2020.

But experts and campaigners claim 30-50% of the oceans outside nations' territorial waters should get protected status to ensure marine biodiversity.

How Deep Ocean Live unfolded

Environmentalists argue an international treaty is needed because climate change, overfishing and efforts to mine the seabed for precious minerals put unsustainable pressure on marine life that could have devastating consequences for creatures on land as well.

Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the world's surface but remain largely unexplored.

Small island nations are among the most vulnerable to sea level rises caused by climate change.

Land erosion, dying coral reefs and the increased frequency of extreme weather events threaten their existence.

The president spoke during a visit to a British-led science expedition exploring the Indian Ocean depths.

Researchers expect to carry out more than 300 deployments by the end of the mission, collecting around 1,400 samples and surveying about 25,000 square metres (269,100 square ft) of seabed using sonar equipment.

The data will be used to help the Seychelles expand its policy of protecting almost a third of its national waters by 2020.

Mr Faure gave his speech 120m below the waves off Desroches island. He said: "From this depth, I can see the incredible wildlife that needs our protection, and the consequences of damaging this huge ecosystem that has existed for millennia.

"Over the years, we have created these problems. We can solve them."

:: Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com.