‘Do we love our beaches enough?’ by Meghna Raghoobar

This 16th December 2019, while we are all preparing for Christmas time and New Year to welcome 2020, the government of Mauritius under the legis of the Ministry of Environment, Waste Management and Climate Change (just few days after COP 25) convened an ‘Assise of Environment’ in Mauritius with 4 specific themes notably : Zones Côtières et Environment marin, Biodiversité et Resource Naturelles, Lutte contre la Pollution, La Culture environmental.

Though all seemed interesting for me, I could attend only two of them, and being an islander in the environmental and wellness sector attending the ‘Zones Côtières et Environment Marin’ and ‘Lutte contre la pollution’ were two themes that were core to my causes. Those two sessions gave me some insights, reflections and solution-based approach that I will sharing with you in this blog.

Did you know that ?

1. The economic value of coastal zone is more than 1 trillion rupees for Mauritius, and more 60% of our coral reefs has bleached.
2. Did you know that Mauritius Exclusive Economic Zone is 2.3 million kilometre squares compare to our main land which is 2000 kilometre and more than 80% of our Mauritian population don’t know how to swim and has never dive in their life to see what’s there beneath the oceans.
3. Did you know that we have two marine parks in Mauritius and the Blue Bay Marine Park lost more than 90% of it’s marine eco-system?
4. Did you know that our Mangroves area is 181 hectares, and so far we have planted solely of approximately 23 hectares of mangroves ?
5. Did you know that Mauritius produce more than 100 million of bottled water yearly and most of them either land in our landfills, rivers, lakes or ocean?

If we love our beaches enough, moving forward are few concrete examples, I have tried to push forward during my intervention during the Q/A time which I want to share with you all to tackle the above problematic and I look forward to have your support in putting those into actions as well:

1. “In order to restore our bleaching corals, we should divide Mauritius beaches into 9 different segments. And in the next 20-years, we must close 1 segment each 2-years (without any recreational activities), and allow solely certified divers and scientists to ‘get wet’ in order to assist in the restoration of the corals while giving space for the corals to grow and rejuvenate”.
2. I feel it’s high time to not only do ‘picnic’ on the beach without knowing what’s in there. It’s only when you get to know, what’s in there or what is no more in there, that you will be conscious enough to do your bit to protect it. Having 2.3 million kilometre squares of ocean space and 80% of Mauritian not knowing how to swim or have their diving certification is quite alarming. I would have really pushed for, to make swimming lessons for 2-years mandatory in every primary, secondary and tertiary schools and give students more than 18 years old, 50% subsidies on their diving certification with any diving center in Mauritius with the aim to get them dive to collect Plastic Debris within the Ocean and do Coral Farming to restore our bleached coralson a free-lance paid basis. We need to shift to experiential learning and blue income moving forward.
3. When it concerns mangrove planting to fill up the 181 hectares of land, I feel each companies and schools should get on the ground and plant mangroves. What about targeting 200,000 mangroves plantation yearly to fill up those hectares.
4. Well, when it concerns plastic pollution, if you are following me closely, you know that you need to join hands with me to install a maximum of public water dispensers in Mauritius to reduce the consumption of bottled water to start it.

Do you love our beach/oceans enough? If yes, join me through SYAH and HolistiZen to make the above happen in the next 5-years.

P. Meghna Raghoobar