WIO Mariculture Forum

Reproduced from the Sea Grant Network listserve:

Mauritius: The introduction of aquaculture

by Pynee Chellapermal (translated from French)

On July 8, 2008, the Mauritian Parliament passed an amendment to the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act (2007) through the Bill of Finance in 2008. Note that the Bill of Finance of the provisions and fiscal measures taken by the Government for fiscal year 2008-2009. Therefore, carrying out this amendment under the Bill of Finance in place of an amendment directly to the law on fisheries and marine resources, depriving citizens of the desirability of a real debate and make a critical analysis of the amendments.

These amendments are intended to enable the development of aquaculture in the lagoon and outside the lagoon. Section 8C of the bill speaks of ‘Concessions on portions of the lagoon and sea for aquaculture projects for a period of 20 years initially, then renewable for periods of 10 consecutive years. These concessions will be granted to both
Mauritian and  foreign investors and  will be denied access to traditional users including fishermen, boaters, divers and practicing water sports. Violations are punishable by fines and even imprisonment.

These amendments have prompted the reaction of the Mauritian society and in particular fishermen’s associations, NGOs, associations of boaters, skipper, some operators in the tourism sector such as the Association of divers, service providers in the field of sports Sailing, environmentalists and ordinary citizens. All these organizations and civil society movements came together in a platform that took the name of Kalipso (Calypso in French) to oppose aquaculture activities in the lagoon and sea, and to advocate for restoration the right of the public on Wednesday

Kalipso platform for the amendments that were passed constitute an unprecedented openness toward privatization of the sea, especially as the concessionaire rushing to mark his concession and that will control and administration ‘.

Also according Kalipso, ‘Apart from the disastrous impacts that aquaculture will have on the environment, other sectors including the social fabric, economic growth linked to tourism, food security for the poor, the quality of our tourist destination marine biodiversity and aspects practices related to safety at sea ‘, will suffer negative impacts.
Also, aquaculture activities in the lagoon and sea will constitute a serious infringement of freedom of movement on Wednesday, freedom guaranteed by our Constitution and the Civil Code (Article 538) which states that the sea forms the common heritage What the public domain that is not owned by the state, which may be subject to private ownership and is inalienable and imprescriptible.

Today the question of compatibility between the activities of offshore aquaculture and sustainable development is very pertinent . Several countries, which have embarked on similar activities, have had some problems and had to abandon their activities.

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