Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Coastal region and small island papers 9

Annex 6.15
Mauritius perspective on wise coastal practices

Prepared by Mr Mitrasen Bhikajee
Revision date: 1^st March 2001

Background  

The Republic of Mauritius is made up of several small islands. Apart from the main island, Mauritius, located at 20º17’ S and 57º33 E, the republic also consists of the outer islands of Rodrigues, St. Brandon, Agalega, the Chagos Archipelago and Tromelin. Because these islands are widely scattered over the Western Indian Ocean, the Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers an area of 1.9 million km².

Mauritius, with a land area of 1,865 km² and a coastline of 177 km, has a population density of 572 people per km². In view of the fact that half of the island is covered by sugar cane, the population density on the remaining area is quite high.

Mauritius has witnessed very rapid industrial development in the last two decades. Coastal land is scarce and is sought after by various competing users. This is causing unplanned development of prime coastal land in environmentally sensitive areas.

Because the island is so small, nearly all land-based activities impact directly on the coast, thus the entire island can be considered a coastal zone. It is expected that, in spite of mitigating measures, the pressure on the coastal zone from a multitude of users will remain intense.

Principle and immediate coastal-related issues

According to the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) (Government of Mauritius, 1999), intense pressure from the sea (fisheries and water sports) and land-based activities (construction, sewage disposal, industry and agriculture) is degrading the environment and threatening to prevent the realization of the country’s full economic potential. The most damaging effects are:

• Beach erosion: this has recently been exacerbated by the construction of jetties and walls right on the water’s edge;

• Poor water quality in the lagoon: all the rivers drain into the lagoon after passing through agricultural and industrial areas, and as a result they have a high nutrient load and a lot of illegally dumped liquid effluents. Only a small part of the island is connected to the sewer system and even here the waste water is discharged into the sea after only primary treatment. The lagoon water quality also suffers as a result of the large number of beach bungalows having soak-away pits;

• Loss of biological diversity in the marine and coastal areas: this is considered to be quite serious and much of the damage is not directly visible. Corals are affected by coastal works, water sports, anchor damage and tourist activities;

• Drop in fish catch due to over-fishing of the lagoon. The high rate of industrialization coupled with insufficient measures to prevent direct or indirect discharges of effluents and agrochemicals into the lagoon has a serious impact on the lagoon productivity. The coastal fishery production in 1997 was the lowest recorded in the preceding ten years.

• Inadequate planning of the coastal zone: high quality land, particularly in prime coastal areas, is scarce and widely sought after. Land planning failures in the past, coupled with inadequate control, has led to incompatible developments and encroachment onto environmentally sensitive areas.

Significant programmes and projects

With the rapid deterioration of the environment in the 1990s, the Government of Mauritius published the first NEAP. Through the implementation of this plan, several remedial measures have been taken:

Significant gaps in ongoing and planned activities

• Data collection is required in a number of areas: coastal erosion and sediment transport to determine long-term solutions; a complete survey of the flora and fauna of the coasts of Mauritius and its outer islands; and research on the biology, food and feeding habits, behaviour, and fish larval transport of the coastal fishes in Mauritian waters.

• ICZM plan which would include a holistic plan for the rehabilitation of the lagoon.

• Lack of capacity in the ICZM Division because of non-availability of trained personnel.

Scope for potential CSI activity

• CSI activities can be of enormous help in capacity building and institutional strengthening since as in most island states, only limited expertise is available locally and very often projects do not progress satisfactorily due to a lack of trained personnel.

• Potential partners working in the region and who could be interested in teaming up with CSI are SEACAM, the Indian Ocean Commission through the University of the Indian Ocean, and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).

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A regional approach to integrated coastal management / West Indian Ocean islands – Yves Henocque

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