The marine environment plays a central role in the economy of Mauritius, providing a platform for the tourism and fishing industries. Human impacts on our lagoon have become considerable and threaten the fragile equilibrium of its ecosystem. Coral degradation due to anchor damage, unplanned and uncontrolled recreational and tourist activities has affected the habitat of many different marine species, threatening their reproduction and survival. Land based activities such as pollution from untreated sewage, fertilizers and pesticides, upland erosion, coastal land reclamation and pollution from burning sugar cane fields and garbage all seriously affect lagoon habitats. Coastal zones of Mauritius are under growing human pressure with less and less space available for the population on the one hand and a rapidly increasing number of beach users on the other hand. There also have been an increased number of boat users operating in proximity to public beaches with little to no control. This phenomenon, amongst others, critically impacts the coastal zone areas as none of the activities taking place on beaches are managed adequately. Indeed, the use of beaches results in much pollution such as solid wastes in water and on the beach, shell collection, wastes resulting from cooking, and burning. The environmental impact of these activities is poorly understood among the general public and the stakeholders. The situation requires urgent action to improve management of the public beach and lagoon areas while targeting a large number of people for sensitisation about the marine environment and human impacts on the lagoon.

The project aims at more efficient management of coastal zones for better protection of marine habitats and sensitisation of the beach users and public at large. This will be achieved by setting up of swimming zones and information panels on the beach at Flic-en-Flac. A new buoy design based on the original Fixed Mooring Buoy design will be developed and used for the swimming zones. Other adapted Fixed Mooring Buoys will be set up at snorkel sites at Flic-en-Flac, and training on marine conservation and biodiversity issue will be given to the Beach Authority staff. The setting up of buoys for swimming zones will be funded by the Beach Authority. Beach Clean-Up Campaigns will be organized by the Beach Authority to sensitize the public on proper disposal of waste and use of facilities available on beaches. The Beach Authority is also considering doing other activities to raise awareness at the national level e.g. drawing competition in schools.

The Beach Authority also proposes to provide MSDA/Reef Conservation Mauritius with a building at Pereybere Public Beach to be converted into a Beach Resource Centre for sensitisation, education and training. It will open a door to all who wish to inform themselves and participate in marine environmental conservation and most importantly acts as a platform to sensitise the general public about safety at sea, the need to protect our marine environment and respect the zoning systems. It will seek to build up an environmentally friendly culture on and around public beaches while providing information about broader marine environmental issues. Such infrastructures offer the possibility to sensitise different socio-economic groups, ranging from fishermen communities, youth groups, children, tourists, tourist operators and the general public from across the island. The Beach Authority is considering providing the building for the resource centre for two years.
Objectives

The primary objectives of this project are to protect the marine biodiversity and ecosystems by providing marine environmental education for primary school children and adequate coastal zone management and sensitization and education to the children and general public, using the Pereybere public beach Resource Centre as a platform for carrying out these activities. The specific objectives of this project are:

Coastal Zone Management and Sensitization of beach and lagoon users for better protection of marine habitats (to be funded by the Beach Authority)
- Develop and test a new buoy design (based on the FMB successful Buoy design) to be used for swimming zones at Flic-en-Flac on a pilot basis
- Deployment of adapted Fixed Mooring Buoys on popular snorkel sites at Flic-en-Flac
- Maintain the new swimming zones and monitoring of snorkel sites
- Carry out Beach Clean-Up Campaigns to sensitize beach users and public at large about the proper disposal of waste and proper use of facilities for the conservation and protection of beaches
- Sensitize beach and lagoon users by setting up information panels at Flic-en-Flac beach about the swimming zones, safety at sea and marine environmental protection
- Organize other activities e.g. drawing competition to sensitize public at a national level
- Provide training to Beach Authority staff on marine biodiversity and conservation issues for more effective beach and lagoon management and thus better conservation of marine habitats and also with a view for the staff to manage the beach resource centre
- Carry out environmental monitoring on the snorkelling sites

3.2.2. Establishment of a Beach Resource Centre at Pereybere public beach
- Develop the necessary education and sensitisation materials for use in the Resource Centre. Hands-on and interactive materials, such as posters, booklets, and a 3-D model of the lagoon will be developed and these will focus on all aspects of marine ecology and conservation and safety at sea
- Offer First Aid training (RLSS bronze level life certificate), snorkel training and initiation to SCUBA diving, with possibility to carry out lagoon monitoring and deeper water monitoring of marine habitats
- Provide educational glass-bottom boat and snorkelling trips for children and partners with the aim of linking what has been learnt in class about the marine environment and emphasizing the need for protection of the lagoon habitats
- Create an environmentally friendly culture on and around public beaches while providing information about broader marine environmental issues. Such infrastructures offer the possibility to sensitise different socio-economic groups, ranging from fishermen communities, youth groups, children, tourists, tourist operators and the general public.
- Support establishment of a Life Saving Unit at the Beach Resource Centre (under Beach Authority Management)

3.2.3 Pilot Environmental Education Project to introduce marine sciences in the science curriculum of primary schools, along with the development of environmental corners
- Establish partnership with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources (NCCRD, MIE and other relevant bodies)
- Work with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources to introduce basic marine science concepts in the national curriculum as the Ministry of Education plans to review the curricula for Standards I, II, III in 2006 and IV, V, VI in 2007
- Develop educational materials consisting of lesson plans and hands-on practical tools to complement the Discovering the Ocean World teacher pack produced by Shoals Rodrigues as well as to support the science curriculum, to make it easier for teachers to teach marine sciences in class
- Develop and provide field trips including visits to the Beach Resource Centre
- Develop tools to set up environmental corners in 20 schools in partnership with the Rotary Club of Port-Louis Citadelle. Encourage setting up of environmental clubs and field visits to the Beach Resource Centre and other related activities