Supporting NGOs in Mauritius

Local NGO Eco-Sud are working hard to protect the marine environment of the Pointe D'Esny area in southeastern Mauritus.  Environmental education is a major component of their work, and they have implemented outreach projects with fishers, tourism operators and the wider community. 

In July 2011, Eco-Sud organised a round-table workshop for 150 stakeholders to dicuss conservation issues and the future of the lagoon, as a recent scientific study had shown that fisheries had been over exploited, and the lagoon ecosystem was in decline.  Eco-Sud wanted to use the event to explain some important elements of fish ecology, as understanding these issues is important in developing strategies to conserve fish stocks.

Eco-Sud asked for MET's help, and we prepared a presentation to explain fish lifecycles, highlighting in particular the need to protect the different habitats used at different life stages, the problems with catching undersize fish, and the advantages to fishers in allowing fish to grow larger before they are caught.