Since our arrival the rain became a constant companion and today was no different. As always we did not let that dampen our spirits, we had a mission to accomplish. After a long and tiring journey to the north of Mauritius, we finally arrived at Reef Conservation. My fellow Blue Economy Champions and I had the pleasure of meeting an incredibly passionate team dedicated to their work. So what is Reef Conservation all about? Reef Conservation Mauritius is a non-profit organisation which is dedicated to the conservation as well as the restoration of the costal and marine environment of Mauritius. They promote the sustainable use of marine ecosystem biodiversity through local and regional efforts by partnering with various stakeholders. Foster community participation by reaching various stakeholders particularly the concentrate on youth and coastal communities to take leadership of the conservation. Conservation is only effective if people are involved and have a vested interest in it. One project where community participation is essential is the VMCA. You may ask “What are VMCAs?” Well Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas (VMCAs) are selected sites found within the lagoon where resource users and coastal communities agree that no extractive or destructive activities will be undertaken, which has been established since 2009. This is essential as it helps the ecosystem to restore itself and is undertaken with collaboration from the registered fisherman. The project builds networks cross cutting various interest groups, promoting co-management of sites which include Roches Noires and one in Anse La Raie. The committee works in tandem to monitor and create awareness of the sites, this helps to identify issues and actions that can be undertaken to improve the ecosystem as well as economic benefits to be had. Reef Conservation works closely with the youth through education and awareness campaigns complimented with skill development. One way is the is the sea bus “Bis la Mer” which travels around Mauritius meeting various communities to sensitize the locals, up till now they have reached over 20,000 people. Carry out sustainability projects such as recycling, organic/endemic gardens in schools, they have over 99 schools in both Mauritius and Rodrigues, coupled with policy work to integrate marine science and conservation into the existing National Curriculum for primary school children. This is only a brief summary of Reef Conversation and does not fully reflect the magnitude and dedication of this team to their work. After an interactive introduction to organisation we were treated to a glass bottom boat ride to a nearby reef to view of the ecosystem. Despite the slightly lowered visibility and bumpy ride we were given a real treat! Various exotic fish and coral species of varying shapes, sizes, we couldn’t contain our excitement, testing our knowledge by identify fish and taking pictures. Unfortunately our moment of bliss came to an abrupt end, when we discovered a horrific scene. We discovered a fish trap with various fish inside, unfortunately the fish inside the cage were not consumable such as the butterfly fish. So we champions (Richard and I) stepped in, mounting a rescue mission to free the fishes with the help of the skipper and his trusted side kick! Working together and I were able to lift the heavy cage to the boat and free the fishes, upon closer inspection we saw that the trap was of an old design as it was made of metal and rusted. It probably got carried by the currents onto the reef, one is left to wonder how many fish fell victim before we found it and how many of the traps may still be out there. Felling proud of a job well done we went back to the centre and after a heroes feast of chicken pasta, we went for a tour of the nearby mangrove area to learn about this habitat. Fun fact is that there are molluscs that can help to determine the weather. These tiny creatures climb up trees and hide in grooves this signals that there might be rain and they always face away from where the wind is blowing. This tiny fun fact is brought to you by Reef Conversation very own Bear Grylls, who we discovered is Seychellois! I also had the opportunity to plant a mangrove seed that may seem insignificant now but will one day grow into a home for various wildlife and help the community even when I’m not there! I hope to one day return to visit my tree. I have to say this has been a memorable visit, I have learnt much and also shared my knowledge with the team there on issues we face and solutions which can be implemented to solve those issues. We need more collaboration between various stakeholders by sharing knowledge, increasing participation and capacity building as it is through these methods that we can make a better tomorrow. I hope the fellow champions have left there a little bit more knowledgeable and appreciation for marine and coastal conservation. Please note some photos courtesy of Anael Bodwell.
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AuthorThe interns of the Prosperity & Environment: Promoting sustainable development opportunities for youth in the Blue Economy sector. Archives
January 2018
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