February 2022

In 2022, our team went out into coastal communities across Mauritius to listen, learn, and understand how people perceive seagrass meadows. Over the course of several months, we conducted almost 1 500 interviews with a wide range of people – from fishers and hotel managers to tourism operators, local residents, and government representatives.

 

The interviews took place in three key regions: Bel Ombre in the south, Mont Choisy in the northwest, and Roches Noires in the northeast. These lagoons were chosen because they are important both ecologically and socially, but also because they face visible challenges such as erosion, declining seagrass cover, and pressures from tourism.

 

The conversations revealed a diversity of perspectives. Some community members admitted they had never heard of seagrasses before, while others – particularly fishers and tourism operators – spoke in detail about the changes they had seen in the lagoons over time. Many respondents described how the decline of seagrass meadows affected fisheries and the beauty of the lagoon, and most agreed that restoring them would bring benefits for both people and nature.

 

Collecting these voices is not only about research; it is about building trust and ensuring that restoration efforts reflect the needs and knowledge of the communities who depend most on the coast. These insights now form an essential foundation for the project, guiding awareness campaigns, restoration strategies, and policy recommendations.

 

This large-scale survey demonstrates that nature-based solutions must start with people. By listening to their experiences and perceptions, we can ensure that seagrass conservation in Mauritius is not just a scientific effort, but a shared journey towards sustainable coasts and resilient communities.