Objective 1: Capture Coastal Community Perceptions

To bridge this gap, our team carried out nearly 1 500 in-depth interviews with citizens, fishers, tourism operators, hotel managers, and government representatives across three regions of Mauritius: Bel Ombre (South), Mont Choisy (Northwest), and Roches Noires (Northeast). These areas were chosen because they face documented erosion, tourism pressures, and signs of seagrass decline.

 

The surveys revealed important insights:

• Awareness varies widely. Only about half of community members had heard of seagrasses, while almost all fishers, hotel managers, and ministry officials recognised their importance.

• Perceptions of change are strong. Across all regions, many respondents had noticed seagrass decline and overwhelmingly saw it as a negative development.

• Ecosystem services are valued differently. Communities tended to highlight seagrasses as nurseries and habitats for fish (provisioning services), while tourism and hotel stakeholders emphasised their role in sustaining ecosystems (supporting services). Cultural values, such as natural beauty, were less frequently mentioned — though most respondents agreed that seagrasses add beauty to coastal waters.

• Responsibility is shared. Stakeholders suggested a mix of government action, local initiatives, and private sector involvement to tackle coastal erosion and support restoration.

 

These findings show that while knowledge gaps remain, there is a strong basis for awareness-raising, capacity-building, and policy engagement. By integrating local perceptions with scientific knowledge, seagrass restoration can be positioned not only as an environmental solution, but also as a community development opportunity that strengthens coastal resilience.