Everything about Mauritius

• Coastline and Marine Ecosystem of Mauritius

The coastline of Mauritius is 322 km long and almost entirely surrounded by a fringing coral reef enclosing a lagoon area totalling 243 km2. The reef complex of Rodrigues has an area of 200 km2. The coral reef of St Brandon covers an area of 190 km2, while Agalega has 100 km2. The marine ecosystem is quite vulnerable with threats from both marine and land-based activities. In 1997 the Blue-Bay (353 ha) and Balaclava (485 ha) Marine Parks were proclaimed. Coral bleaching was observed in 1998. Six Fishing Reserves have been proclaimed under the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 1998, (Port Louis, Grand Port, Black River, Poudre d’Or, Poste La Fayette and Trou d’eau Douce). The main objective of the Reserves is to protect and conserve habitats that are nursery grounds for juvenile fish. The freshwater bodies on the mainland of Mauritius comprise approximately 2000 ha of reservoirs, rivers and streams. There are three known endemic freshwater fish and many endemic crustacea. Introductions of exotic fish species including the Tilapia (Oreocromis spp.), have invaded almost every fresh water body and have resulted in significant changes in freshwater biodiversity.

• Lagoons of Mauritius

The lagoons of Mauritius are complex systems comprising a variety of habitats: beaches, mangroves, sand or mud swamps, lagoon channels, seagrass beds, coral colonies, sand clays and a reef zone. Besides beaches, the coastal areas offer potential passive recreational activities including trails and picnic areas along the linear ‘river reserves’ that stretch from the coast to the mountains.

Currently the main uses of the lagoon and reefs are divers, pleasure craft, and other recreational uses.