Rainbow: Element of Water

Many rivers and streams, generous amounts of rainfall, fertile land and abundant lagoons have provided Mauritius with the resources to support its population through agriculture and fishery ever since the 17th century. For a very long time the economy of the island was based upon these two trades.

The past decades have seen a spectacular rise in the population’s standard of living, and a great change of consumption patterns coupled with a significant birth increase. This means that new demands are being thrust on the environment: more lands and roads are needed, factories must be built, a greater output from agriculture is required, and ultimately there is an increased demand for fish from the lagoons and fishing banks, while at the same time a decrease in the number and variety of the species occurs.

One of the reasons why the marine environment is dramatically affected by above mentioned impacts is the fact that all rivers run into the sea:  Industrial and domestic waste water and waste from sugar mills and agrochemical usage are some of the main sources of water pollution and fish mortality. In addition to that, erosion of top soil by rainfall following deforestation has occurred in most regions of Mauritius. This top soil then reaches the lagoons and fills them with silt.