Old Kingswoodian, Keith Rose-Innes (OK 1995) arrived on the remote island of Cosmoledo and set out to transform it into a shining example of marine conservation.
Adapted from source
Old Kingswoodian Keith Rose-Innes (OK 1995) has dedicated the better part of two decades to transforming Cosmoledo, a remote and once-degraded atoll in the Seychelles, into one of the world’s leading examples of sustainable marine conservation.
A lifelong adventurer and passionate fly-fisherman, Keith first visited Cosmoledo in 2005, captivated by its wild beauty and abundant fishing potential. He began running high-end fly-fishing expeditions to the atoll, which quickly gained a reputation among global anglers. But in 2009, after one of his charter boats was hijacked by Somali pirates, access to the Outer Islands was shut down by the government for five years. When Keith returned in 2014, he was devastated to find the atoll damaged by poachers and littered with debris.
Realising that short-term visits were no longer enough to protect the area, Keith partnered with fellow South African Murray Collins to launch Blue Safari Seychelles, an eco-tourism initiative with conservation at its core. Together, they worked with the Seychelles government to build a low-impact, fully removable eco-lodge on Cosmoledo, ensuring the island would be protected by a permanent human presence without disturbing its delicate ecosystem.
“I came for the fly fishing, but I now stay for the whole ecosystem.” – Keith Rose-Innes
Since then, Keith and his team have helped restore the health of Cosmoledo’s marine and bird life, while also supporting vital research, beach cleanups, seabird and turtle monitoring, and anti-poaching patrols. His efforts contributed to Cosmoledo being included in the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan, which designates 30% of the nation’s waters as Marine Protected Areas.
What began as a search for the ultimate fly-fishing destination has evolved into a much greater mission. Today, Keith stands as one of the leading figures in Indian Ocean conservation, showing that with the right vision, commitment, and collaboration, remote wilderness can be preserved, and even revived, for future generations.
