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Coral Reef Conservation starts at school in Mauritius

Admin
Apr 9
2 min read

For many years Reef Conservation has quietly been promoting the Conservation message in Mauritius to all the schools in Mauritius. The Bis Lameer bus is welcomed whenever it arrives, and the day often turns into an advenure of oceanic exploration, mangrove planting and fun.

Eugene Vitry explains the importance of mangrove conservation in the island's oceanic eco system to a group of school children from Triolet.

Ocean Spirit was invited by Corona North Group to enjoy a presentation by Julia Lagesse on the Reef Conservation coral and mangrove propagation projects. Coral reef nurseries have been established in the South of the Island, and they are beginning to thrive. A backup system of on-land coral nurseries have also been established, in case the high temperatures we have experienced recently cause coral bleaching in the ocean reefs.

The Reef Conservation team with Nando and Ian @ianhaggertyrsa

The water temperature around Mauritius is normally between 23 and 28 degrees, but this year it was over 30 degrees in the lagoons, and this became dangerous for the fragile corals, which when over-heated expel thei zooxanthellae symbiotic algae and become white, making them vulnerable to damage.

An additional danger is the invasion of destructive red and black algae that infests the dying corals once the highly prized vegetarian fish species have fished out and eaten. Most reef species are protected, but even a vigilant Coat Guard cannot easily patrol a 276 kn coastline effectivey against poaching.

Fortunately, the Fishermens Associations are Island Wide, and they are very aware of the needs of their Coral Reefs. There is a group of fishermen in the North whom Ocean Spirit supported during the recent pandemic, and these guys have been incredible careful in what percentage of fish they take for sale.

It's a delicate balance between the needs of a fish eating population that eats many of the vegetarian species of fish, and the needs of the corals that nurture the fish. The entire population is watching th corals die, and hoping they will re-generate. Meacwhile, NGOs like Reef Conservation are promoting Coral Conservation and propagation.

And the members of Corona North are helping them.