The Coral Reef — Mauritius' Protective Shield
Almost the entire coast of Mauritius is surrounded by a fringing coral reef — a natural barrier that breaks the force of the Indian Ocean and creates the calm, turquoise lagoons for which the island is famous. Only in the south and at some points on the west coast is the reef absent — there the ocean meets the coast unimpeded.
The Reef in Numbers
- Length: Over 150 kilometers of coral reef surround the island
- Lagoon area: Around 300 km² of protected shallow water
- Coral species: Over 100 species of hard and soft corals
- Fish species: Over 800 species, many of them endemic
- Sea turtles: Green sea turtle and hawksbill turtle
Threats
The reef is under pressure: coral bleaching due to rising water temperatures, sediment input from agriculture, overfishing, and — particularly painful — the oil disaster of the MV Wakashio in July 2020, when a Japanese freighter ran aground off the southeast coast and over 1,000 tons of oil spilled into the sea. The impacts on the reef and the mangroves were devastating — cleanup efforts continue to this day.
Mauritius is making significant efforts to protect the reef: The Blue Bay Marine Park is a protected underwater area, coral restoration projects are underway in several locations, and sustainable fishing is being promoted. As a visitor, you can help: Do not stand on corals, do not buy souvenirs made of coral or shells, and use reef-safe sunscreen (without oxybenzone and octinoxate).
