Page 9 - Mauritius REPORT

Some of the activities implemented under the ICZM approach include the protection and rehabilitation
works at several eroded public beaches around Mauritius.

The potential for eco-tourism has also been highlighted, particularly as a means of developing
alternative livelihood opportunities amongst coastal farmers. Thus, while rapid coastal development
especially through real estate projects could become problematic, there are clearly strengths and Country Profile
opportunities through which the sector could sustainably develop in the future. The Republic of Mauritius

Addressing coastal erosion
Coastal erosion has been an ongoing problem since the 1960s and it is believed that coral loss
has amounted to up to 50 per cent over the last decade. To prevent further degradation, coastline
protection and rehabilitation works comprising ‘hard’, ‘semi-hard’ and ‘soft’ measures such as rock
revetment, gravel nourishment, use of geobags, and sand nourishment have been completed at
several critical sites, namely Flic enFlac, Blue Bay, Belle Mare, Palmar, Grand Baie, Poudre d’Or, Cap
Malheureux cemetry, Quatre Soeurs, GRSE, Bain Boeuf, Baie du Cap, La Prairie, Le Morne, Roches
Noires, Troud ’Eau Douce, Grand Sable, Bois des Amourettes, Riviere des Creoles, Pomponnette,
Grand Port, Trou aux Biches and St Felix, among others.

Reducing coastal pollution
Sewerage discharge and plastic pollution poses a serious threat to the Mauritian marine life and
also have transboundary impacts. To give effect to the International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), Mauritius has implemented a complete ban on the disposal of
any form of plastic into the sea. It has also banned the use of plastic bags in the hope of reversing
environmental damage caused by the indiscriminate disposal of plastic bags (MESDD, 2019).

Other activities included coordinating response to environmental disasters in the coastal zone namely
tsunami and oil spills. In this regard, a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and a Coastal Sensitivity
Atlas for Oil Spill Response in 2003 were developed. Mauritius has also signed up to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution.

Reduce ocean acidif?cation

The increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a leading cause of the lowering of the
pH of the oceans. It is one of climate change’s most serious impacts. It puts many marine species at
risk also leading to increased coral bleaching. While the long-term global goal must be to mitigate
the CO emissions causing the acidification in the first place, the immediate priority is to learn more
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about what’s going on right now, and to act and adapt as effectively as possible in response.

There is opportunity to invest in building the capacity of the government to monitor, understand
and respond to the issue of ocean acidification; and is an area to be actively pursued. Interventions
could include development of monitoring kits, training of scientists, research and support for policy
at national and regional levels.

Protecting mangroves

The Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 1998, provides for the protection of mangrove species.
Other projects and programs have been designed by the government to deal with some of the

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