The Ancient Coral Beds of Blue Bay

The Ancient Coral Beds of Blue Bay
At the very centre of the bay, in between the islet and the coastline, lie ancient coral beds of great beauty and of great biological diversity. This diversity of corals makes the site of international importance.

At a depth of 5.5 metres, the seabed is covered with corals of which 80% are alive. The density of corals found here make it even more valuable and so unique. A study of the site has enabled researchers to identify about 50 different species of corals and more than 50 different species of fishes belonging to 25 families. The presence of Seriatopora hystrix at the site is to be noted, for it is a rare species for Mauritius.

In spite of pressure from tourism development, uncontrolled fishing and urbanisation, the coral beds are in good health, but there are a few signs of stress here and there.

Rapid Urbanisation of Blue Bay
Like most coastal zones round Mauritius, Blue Bay has had its lot of urbanisation but has suffered to a lesser extent compared to other coastal villages like Grand Baie or Flic en Flac. Yet over the years, urbanisation and tourism have transformed the bay altogether. Bungalows and hotel construction have greatly modified the visual environment, sky lanes were driven through the lagoon and there are numerous boats speeding across the bay. Furthermore, possible sewage seepage from nearby bungalows could impact on lagoon health.

The Marine Park
In the seventies, consultants suggested to proclaim the bay a marine park due to the presence of rich and diverse coral beds and the relative ease of access to the bay. Unfortunately for the next twenty years nothing happened whilst the bay was being rapidly urbanised. Eventually in 1997, the Blue Bay Marine Park was proclaimed by Government, proclamation no 15 of 1997, together with the Balaclava Marine park, proclamation no 14 of 1997. However, Government has yet to publish a management plan for the parks, though from unofficial sources such a plan is under preparation.

The Follies Project
In 1988, a company named Blue Bay Tokay Island Ltd was created and obtained in 1990 from the Government of the time the lease of the islet (All lagoon islets and offshore islands are State Lands in Mauritius and Rodrigues). The lease imposed more than 20 special conditions on the promoters. The project consisted of 15 bungalows. However, one of the promoters suddenly died in 1992 and the project never got off the ground.

Soon afterwards, another company called the “Quatre Cocos Investment Ltd” bought off Blue Bay Tokay Island Ltd. They put forward a hotel project that consisted of 120 rooms with swimming pool and restaurants. In 1993, they obtained from Government a further lease for a main land site on the so-called “Pas Geometriques”. The main land site would consist of administrative buildings and a jetty.

In 1996, the promoters submit their Environment Impact Assessment Report to Government. Immediately, a number of organisations such as SPACE (Society for the Protection and Conservation of the Environment), ACIM (Association des Consommateurs de l’île Maurice), MMCS (The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society) residents and fishermen from Blue Bay voice out their objections to the project and submit these to Government. The Ministry of Environment rejects the EIA report and the promoters do not get their licence. The project is on hold.

The promoters decide to go to the Environment Appeal Tribunal to have the governmental decision over ruled. However, while the appeal is before the courts, the promoters take legal advice. Their lawyers advise them that as they already had a development permit for an initial project in 1990, and given that the Environment Impact Asessement Regulations were promulgated only in 1993, they do not require an EIA licence and so they can proceed with their initial project of 1990. Government requests advice from the State Law Office and in December 1998 the latter declares that because the law has no retroactive effect, the promoters can indeed bypass the Environment Impact Assessment procedures! In the meantime the appeal before the Environment Appeal Tribunal is set to be heard in January 1999. (Le Week End, 6^th of December 1998: Demonstration against the Blue Bay Project).

Source: http://iels.intnet.mu/bbmp.htm

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