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Download Date 27/09/2021 23:51:50 Marine Resources Research Institutions in Mauritius Item Type Report Authors Sanders, M.J. Citation SWIOP/WP/28 - RAF/79/065/WP/28/86. 25 p. Publisher FAO Download date 27/09/2021 23:51:50 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/944 SWIOP/WP/28 - Marine Resources Research Institutions in Mauritius Table of Contents BY M.J. SANDERS Senior Fishery Biologist MARCH 1986 RAF/79/065/WP/28/86 SWIOP DOCUMENT OISO RAF/79/065 REGIONAL PROJECT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES IN THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN PROJET REGIONAL POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT ET L'AMENAGEMENT DES PECHES DANS L'OCEAN INDIEN SUD- OCCIDENTAL c/o UNITY HOUSE, P.O. BOX 487, VICTORIA, MAHE, SEYCHELLES TELEPHONE: 23773 TELEX: 2254 SWIOP SZ This electronic document has been scanned using optical character recognition (OCR) software and careful manual recorrection. Even if the quality of digitalisation is high, the FAO declines all responsibility for any discrepancies that may exist between the present document and its original printed version. Table of Contents SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION Terms of Reference Concept Conduct of the Consultancy Related Consultancies 2. BACKGROUND Living Resources Non-Living Resources Institutional Aspects 3. WORK PROGRAMME Regional Tuna Study Baitfish Investigation Investigation of Local Tunas and Related Species Stock Assessment of Blue Marlin Banks Fisheries Investigation Lagoon Eco-system Investigation Marine Shrimp Studies and Culture 4. IMPLEMENTATION Structure Relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Natural Resources 5. CONCLUDING COMMENTS TABLE 1 - LOCAL STAFF REQUIREMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE WORK PROGRAMME (within the proposed Marine Resources Research Centre) TABLE 2 - LOCAL STAFF REQUIREMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE WORK PROGRAMME (within a Fisheries Department type organisation) APPENDIX 1 - STATEMENTS OF DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS (direction, research and development) APPENDIX 2 - STATEMENTS OF DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS (Fisheries Protection Service) SUMMARY The contents of this document relate principally to a proposal for an autonomous Marine Resources Research Centre in Mauritius. The Consultant concluded that such a Centre lacked Justification at this time. The priority marine resources research was identified as being concerned with fisheries, mariculture and environmental studies (of the lagoon surrounding Mauritius). Most of these activities are already being undertaken within the Fisheries Research and Development Division (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources). It Is proposed that this arrangement continue- but that the Division be re-organized to form part of a broader fisheries department type structure. The additional staff required for the marine resources research and development activities having immediate priority Is identified as at least 23 persons. 1. INTRODUCTION Terms of Reference Concept Conduct of the Consultancy Related Consultancies Terms of Reference This report relates to a proposal for Marine Resources Centre as referred to In the "White Paper on the Development of Fisheries and Non-Living Marine Resources" of September 1985. The possible functions of the Centre were described as Improving the utilization of the marine resources currently being exploited and to Identify those resources that might be exploited In the near future. The Consultant was asked to describe the types of activities the Centre might undertake, its structure and personnel requirements and its relationship with the existing Albion Fisheries Research Centre. Concept The proposed Marine Resources Research Centre was conceived as a single agency having a research and development capability In respect to both the living and non-living resources. The living resources mentioned are principally those of fisheries (commercial and recreational) and mariculture interest. Amongst the non-living resources, reference has been made to manganese nodules and energy from thermal convection currents. Conduct of the Consultancy The consultancy was undertaken largely during the week beginning October 13. During this time discussions were held with Mr. M. Mundbodh, Divisional Scientific Officer, and other staff of the Fisheries Research and Development Division. A visit was undertaken to the University of Mauritius where discussions were held with the Dean of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. S. Bhoojedhur. At the end of the week, preliminary views were expressed and discussions held with Mr. S. Seeballuck, Principal Assistant Secretary (Fisheries) In the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources. Mr. L. Christy, FAO Legal Officer, also attended a number of these meetings and generally assisted the Consultant. Related Consultancies Mr. L. Christy, Legal Officer, and Mr. D. Greboval Fisheries Planning Officer, undertook a Joint consultancy under the Southwest Indian Ocean Project during late 1984. They advised on the possible creation and role of a National Fishing Corporation. The principal conclusions were that a Corporation was not Justified and that the best Institutional structure would be a fisheries department having management, development, research and enforcement functions. As an Interim arrangement, two possible structures were Identified; a Fisheries Management and Development Division within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources and a separate Fisheries Development Authority (1). (1) Christy and Greboval (1985) Fisheries Institutions In Mauritius, RAF/79/065/WP/19/81 The Consultant visited Mauritius during May 1985 to provide assistance In drawing up a work programme for the Fisheries Research and Development Division (of which the Albion Fisheries Research Centre Is part). This was done In respect to the 16 separate projects then being undertaken by the staff. In the process. It was concluded that the work programme was over- ambitious, necessitating either the employment of additional support staff and/or a reduction In the number of projects (2) 2. BACKGROUND Living Resources Non-Living Resources Institutional Aspects Living Resources The State of Mauritius comprises several Islands In the South west Indian Ocean, Including the main island of Mauritius, Rodrigues some 620 km to the East and several smaller islands. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Is estimated to total some 1.7 million square kilometres. The main exploited fishing grounds are the lagoons and off-lagoon areas of Mauritius and Rodrigues and the hanks of St. Brandon, Nazareth, Saya de Malha and the Chagos Archipelago. The lagoon and off-lagoon fishery at the main island is considered to be fully or over-exploited. The situation at Rodrigues Is less serious. About three thousand artisanal fishermen are engaged at each place and the annual landings when combined presently total 5,000 to 3,500 tonnes. The landings from the banks fishery was 2,800 tonnes In 1984 and has shown considerable variation from 1,700 to 3,900 tonnes, largely as a function of the amount of effort engaged. The exploitation of the Saya de Malha Bank is shared with fishermen from Reunion. Recent research undertaken largely from Reunion suggests that these fish stocks are fully exploited. In addition, there Is an unknown amount of fishing by foreign tuna long- liners, some of which use Port Louis as a base for trans-shipment, The quantities of tuna trans-shipped have varied from 5,000 to 37,000 tonnes annually. Mauritius Itself operates a tuna purse-seiner, which fishes around Seychelles and the Chagos Archipelago. Catches of 4,125 tonnes were landed to the local cannery during 1984. The purchase of a second similar vessel Is under consideration. Also there are some 100 to 500 marl In landed around the main Island by recreational fishermen. Recent successes have been achieved In locating and artificially rearing marine shrimps, including the preferred Penaeus monodon . These results have encouraged the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to consider supporting a pilot hatchery (anticipated cost $US 5 million) within the Fisheries Research and Development Division, this is being promoted as a necessary precursor to the possible development of a mariculture industry based on marine shrimps and maybe also the local oyster Crassostrea cuculata . Some 22 barachois (man-made tidal enclosures) with an aggregate area of 302 hectares also exist around the main island for mariculture purposes. (2) Sanders (1985) Documentation of work Programme for the Fisheries Research and Development Division. RAF/79/065/WP/25/86. Non-Living Resources Hie lagoon Is Itself a valuable multiple-use resource. Several areas are under consideration for declaration as marine reserves and nursery areas. The lagoon supports a substantial artisanal fishery and contains non-living resources (sand and coral) which are being exploited at an unknown rate. It has very considerable recreational value of local and touristic importance which Includes swimming, diving, fishing and boating. The extent to which the lagoon Is being changed by pollution, dredging, land reclamation, Illegal use of explosives- fishing, boating and the many other activities Is unknown. The existence of "reasonably good concentrations" of manganese nodules in depths of 4,000 to 5,000 metres within the EEZ of Mauritius has been claimed. This is presumed to be based on the results of research vessel cruises undertaken by technically more advanced countries. Another big- technology development suggested as having applicability is the harnessing of energy arising from Inducing thermal convection
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