Astove Atoll

This area was mostly explored by Arab sailors and merchants between 1000 and 1500 AD. The first mention of settlement on the island was only noted after 1760. This would be the year that the Portuguese frigate ‘La Dom Royal’ and its crew and captain ran aground on the island. Legend tells that the ship was heavy with slaves and treasure. After the captain and crew left the island for Mozambique, the slaves left behind formed a small community who lived off the land and the ocean. 
The 1800’s would see more people visit the island, whilst coconut trees and mangroves were reported for the first time. In 1895, a fishing enterprise was started on the island and later years would see the farming of maize, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons, gourds and tobacco. For a brief time, guano extraction also proved profitable.
In 1968, the lease of Astove was passed on to Mark and Wendy Veevers-Carter. Already the successful producers of a copra plantation on Remire Island, the Veevers-Carters aimed to do the same on the larger Astove. The couple built a house, chapel, store and houses for their workers and set on to get their copra plantation started. They also managed to successfully farm tobacco, cattle, pigs and goats.Wendy Veevers-Carter managed the farm on her own until November of 1970 after her husband passed away in March of that year. The endeavour soon became too much for her and she returned to her homeland of the United States with her 3 children and left the island in the care of 3 Seychellois employees. The island was eventually abandoned and in 2014, it was officially declared a nature reserve.