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Scientists in Mauritius are warning the Indian Ocean island’s ambitious tourism targets will place too much strain on remaining coral. Facing the threats of trade liberalization to its sugar and textile sectors, Mauritius is boosting tourism with a goal of two million tourists per year from an anticipated 900,000 in 2007. But scientists are nervous about that target.
VIA [Reef Builders Magazine]
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One Comment
I am Eric from the US. I spent six month in Mauritius this year and have also been diving all around Mauritius in 30 to 60 Metres deep, I was amazed by the varieties of available corals and fish diversity. Corals in the lagoons seems to be in bad shape in some regions only, but it is not because of impact of tourism as the Mauritian scientists pointed out, it is mainly because the huge amount and diverisity of planktons, zoo planktons the corals feed on which prevent them from gaining beautiful colours. I can assure you that outside the reefs, you can see plenty of beautiful corals. I visited the Marine Park of Blue Bay, for me it is not a place of any interest. Mauritius has more to offer at different places in the lagoon of Mauritius. Blue Bay Marine park is one of the worst sites among the worst where corals are found.
I also attended a seminar on Coral Culture presented by the Mauritius Oceanographic Institute during my stay. Scientists are proud to present a work of growing corals in plastic dustbins using pumping seawater. Of course, the result was fantastic according to the lady scientist presenting the seminar. The corals were white in colour, all of them. Anyway its good they now know that Corals also grow in plastic dustbins. It could have been in a marine aquarium also, but later I came to know that Mauritian scientists dont even know how to keep a Marine Aquarium. So, the lady scientist proposed that these corals are to be cultures by a group of people, after a few months the corals shall be taken out of the water and leave to dry. Thus, these dry Corals can be used to be sold as souvenirs for tourists who visits the Islands, thus preventing them to damage Mauritian Reefs and taking out Corals during diving. The Mauritian scientists should know that tourist are well aware that they cannot travel with dead corals in thier luggage without a CITES certification. And most of the tourist who indeed come to see the beautiful corals in the lagoons, I am sure does not want to harm these Corals by any means, especially by cultivating live corals to be sold as souvenirs. This is so cruel, I am sure you will agree with me. This is not a solution to protect your reef or save your Corals from tourists. Tourist does not come to Mauritius to steal or damage the ecosystem, neither they are fond of buying dead corals.
After the seminar, the lady scientist was applauded by the Ministry of Agro and Fisheries in person !! Many scientists and people present did not find anything to say but approved the idea.The ministry of finance representative who was also present and said they will consider financing of the project.
I just guess that Mauritius has simply it’s own unique style where Reef preservation is concerned.