Mr. Stuart Laing
- Lecturer
- Research Member
- St**********@*******ac.sc
- BE**@*******ac.sc
- +248 483 1220
Blue Economy Research Institute
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Focus areas: Natural Resource Economics, Blue Economy Valuations, Ecosystem Valuations, Coastal Marine Ecosystem Monitoring
Mr. Stuart Laing is a natural resource economist and field scientist with expertise in non-market valuation techniques, having used these to elicit use values of the coral reefs in north eastern South Africa and southern Mozambique. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science and a researcher at the Blue Economy Research Institute, at the University of Seychelles.
In his current role he has been involved in and led projects, including: estimating an environmental tourism levy for visitors to the islands; UNECA projects testing and utilizing the Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit for Seychelles; updating the adaptation component of Seychelles’ second NDC; and leading a national perception survey regarding ocean-governance and fisheries related attitudes. His marine expertise has seen him collaborate with local partners to conduct baseline marine biodiversity assessments, where his expertise with stereo-BRUVS are valuable.
Stuart sits on the Finance Committee of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust and the Marine Spatial Plan Technical Working Group. Through his broad network he has worked closely with local NGOs, government ministries and the private sector, UN agencies, the World Bank, CEPF, SeyCCAT and he conducts reviews of regional reports. His technical skills have seen him gaining a sound understanding of the natural world, assisting him in attempts to bridge the gap between science and economics.
Qualifications
- Master of Commerce
- Bachelor of Economics (Honours)
- Class IV Dive Supervisor (South African Department of Labour)
- Class C Skipper, Diving and Surf-launch endorsements (South African Maritime Safety Authority)
Publications & Grey Literature
- Naiken, S., Bullock, R. & Laing, S. 2023. A length-weight condition analysis: Assessing the morphological trends of two juvenile populations of threatened carcharhinid shark species of the St. Joseph Atoll, Seychelles. Seychelles Research Journal, 5:1, 3-16.
- Laing, S., Etongo, D., Antha, S, Bristol, U. and Hoareau, K. 2022. Survey of Perceptions on Ocean Governance, Fisheries Management and the Blue Economy. Department of Blue Economy and Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth (SWIOFish3) Project. pp 68
- Niner, H., …, Laing, S.C.S., et al. 2022. Issues of context, capacity and scale: essential conditions and missing links for a sustainable blue economy. Environmental Science and Policy, 180, 25-35.
- Laing, S.C.S. 2021. The Blue Economy in Seychelles: Socio-economic and ecological assessment of the Blue Economy in Seychelles. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa – Sub-Regional Office for East Africa: Kigali.
- Vergouwen, S., …, Laing, S.C.S., et al. 2021. Support for articulating the Blue Economy and coastal adaptation investment priorities for Seychelles’ climate resilience –Final report. Deltares: Delft, University of Seychelles: Mahé, World Bank: Washington.
- Anlauf, H., Laing, S.C.S. et al. 2021. Marine biodiversity baseline assessment around Frégate Island, 2019-2021. Green Islands Foundation: Mahé, University of Seychelles: Mahé, Frégate Island Private: Mahé.
- Laing, S.C.S. 2020. Testing of a Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa – Sub-Regional Office for East Africa: Kigali.
- Laing, S.C.S. 2020. Blue Economy and blue bonds: An overview of the concepts and the pioneering case of Seychelles. Seychelles Research Journal, 2:1, 155-164
- Dames, V., …, Laing, S.C.S., et al. 2020. Zonation and reef size significantly influence fish population structure in an established MPA, S.A. Ocean and Coastal Management, 185, 105040.
- Laing, S.C.S. et al. 2020. Ecosystem service values of sediment generation & entrapment by marginal coral reefs at Sodwana Bay. African Journal of Marine Science, 42,199-207.
- Larue, D., …, Laing, S.C.S., et al. 2019. Seychelles’ willingness to pay survey. Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust: Mahé.
- Schleyer, M.H., …, Laing, S.C.S., et al. 2018. What can South African reefs tell us about the future of high-latitude coral systems? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 136, 491-507.
