Objective 2: Mapping Mauritius’ Seagrass Meadows
To protect what we value, we first need to know what is there. Until recently, there was no complete baseline map of Mauritius’ seagrass meadows, despite their importance for fisheries, coastal protection, and climate resilience.
To fill this gap, our team carried out a systematic ecological inventory across seven lagoons: Albion, Bain Boeuf, Bel Ombre, Le Morne, Mont Choisy, Roches Noires, and Wolmar. These areas are all officially recognised as Environmentally Sensitive Areas in Mauritius, highlighting their value for biodiversity and coastal protection.
Using transect surveys, quadrats, and GIS mapping, we recorded seagrass species composition, shoot density, leaf length, and meadow coverage. We combined these observations with satellite images, Google Earth data, and local knowledge from fishers and coastal communities to ground-truth and refine our maps.
The results revealed:
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Five seagrass species are present in Mauritius: Syringodium isoetifolium, Halodule sp., Halophila ovalis, Halophila stipulacea, and Thalassodendron ciliatum.
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S. isoetifolium is the most common, found in all lagoons and often dominant in coverage.
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Some lagoons, like Roches Noires, hosted rich multi-species assemblages, while others, such as Mont Choisy, were dominated by a single species.
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Leaf length and shoot density varied greatly between lagoons, reflecting differences in water depth, light conditions, currents, and human pressures.
This baseline study provides an island-wide spatial overview of seagrass ecosystems in Mauritius. It offers essential data to:
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Monitor changes over time (including the impact of climate change and tourism pressures).
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Guide restoration projects by identifying priority areas.
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Support policy decisions for marine protected areas and coastal planning.
By making Mauritius’ “hidden forests of the sea” visible, this work lays the foundation for long-term protection and management of seagrass meadows.