Fisheries - The Marine Conservation Division
Goal
The long-term protection and conservation of marine bio-diversity and ecosystems for sustainable use and to maximise economic and social benefits derived from the coastal zone.
Objectives
• Protect and conserve marine bio-diversity within the boundaries of the Marine Protected Areas (MPA's).
• Monitor marine bio-diversity in MPA's.
• Promote public awareness on the importance of coastal zones and MPA's.
• Contribute to sustainable use of the coastal zone.
key priorities
• Manage and conserve the marine bio-diversity.
• Ensure the sustainable development and management of the coastal zone.
• Allow for controlled uses of the different resources at a sustainable level in the Marine Parks.
• Create awareness towards marine conservation.
Activities of the Marine Conservation Division
• Carry out monitoring of the coral reef ecosystem at the established permanent stations in both Marine Parks - Balaclava and Blue Bay.
• Management and control of the two marine parks and MPA's.
• Carry out public awareness campaigns on marine protcted areas and the sustainable development of the coastal zone.
• Examine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Preliminary Environmental Reports (PERs) and submit views to the Ministry of Environment and NDU.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit to conduct Post Eia monitoring in the coastal zone.
• Carry out ecological surveys and conduct site visits around the island in relation to EIAs, undersea walk activities, nautical centers, demarcation of swimming zones, demarcation of ski lanes, fisheries and coastal development projects.
• Assess and make recommendations for coastal and fisheries development projects and on tourism related activities.
• Issue permits for permissible activities within Marine Protected Areas.
• Enforce MPA Regulations.
• Follow up on the Commission de L'Ocean Indien (COI) project "Création du Réseau des Aires Marines Protegées des pays de la COI" as National Focal Point.
• Follow up on the UNDP/GEF/Government of Mauritius project "Partnership for Marine Protected Areas in Mauritius and Rodrigues".
• Carry out sensitization campaign on MPAs. legislation, protection and preservation of the marine environment and the coastal zone.
The Marine Parks
An extent of sea of 353ha at Blue Bay and 485ha at Balaclava were proclaimed as National Parks in October 1997 under section 11 of the Wild Life & National Parks Act 1993 and then declared as Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) in June 2000 under section 7 of the Fisheries & Marine Resources Act 1998. Measures for the protection, conservation and management of Marine Protected Areas are prescribed in the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendments) Regulations 2007.
The Blue Bay Marine Park has been designated as a "Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar site)" on the 31st of January 2008.
Fishing Reserves
There are six (6) Fishing Reserves (as per list below) around Mauritius which have been declared as Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in June 2000 under section 7 of the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 1998.
| S. N. | LOCATION | EXTENT (ha) |
| 1 | Port Louis | 331 |
| 2 | Grand Port | 1 828 |
| 3 | Black River | 797 |
| 4 | Poudre d'Or | 2 542 |
| 5 | Poste Lafayette | 280 |
| 6 | Trou d'Eau Douce | 574 |
Services Provided
• Enforcement of MPA regulations
• Public awareness and sensitisation, talks, lectures and distribution of pamphlets on marine conservation and MPA's.
• Issue of permits for permissible activities within the Marine Protected Areas; details refer to the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Marine Protected Areas) Regulations 2001 and the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendments) Regulations 2007.
Downloadable Forms and Documents
Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 1998
Fisheries and Marine Resources (Marine Protected Areas) Regulations 2001
Charges for Marine Protected Area Permits : including the amendments to charges for Marine Protected Areas Permits as per the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Marine Protected areas) (Amendments) Regulations 2007.
Application form for permit(s)
Duly filled in application forms for permit(s) other than Blue Bay Marine Park should be submitted together with three passport size photographs of the applicant to the Albion Fisheries Research Centre, Albion, Petite Rivière.
Note: Application for permits for activities within the Blue Bay Marine Park should be made at the Blue Bay Marine Park Patrol and Visitors’ Centre, Coastal road, Blue Bay.
Contact Details
Albion Fisheries Research Centre, Albion, Petite Rivière.
Tel No: (+230) 238 4829 & (+230) 238 4100
Fax No: (+230) 238 4184
E-mail: fisheries@mail.gov.mu
Blue Bay Park Patrol and Visitors' Centre
Coastal Road, Blue Bay
Phone/Fax: (+230) 631 2416
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