Mauritius and Reunion Island Join Forces to Protect Coastal Areas

A technical exchange mission between Mauritius and Reunion Island, organized by mru2025, a non-governmental organization (NGO), and the French public agency, the Conservatoire du Littoral, is taking place in Mauritius from December 8 to 12, 2025.

In this context, a workshop themed "A Coastline for All: Towards a Shared Territorial Project" was held on Thursday, December 11, 2025, in Port-Louis.

The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management, and Climate Change, Rajesh Bhagwan, was present on this occasion.

In his opening speech, the Minister expressed his appreciation for the initiative, which brings together stakeholders sharing the common goal of protecting the beauty and integrity of the coasts. He was pleased that the main objective of this exchange mission is to observe and compare the experiences of both islands and to co-develop realistic solutions that consider the expectations of the communities.

Rajesh Bhagwan reminded that the beaches of Mauritius and Reunion Island, which form an essential part of the identity, community, and wealth of the countries, constitute a key pillar of the tourism industry and are a sanctuary for biodiversity.

In light of the numerous threats related to climate change and human-induced consequences negatively impacting the coasts of Mauritius, the Minister called for renewed commitment and coordination to address current and future challenges.

He advocated for cross-sector collaboration between the private and public sectors as well as NGOs to move forward with unified actions. In this regard, he indicated that the ministry plans to bring all stakeholders together under a single entity to ensure better planning, coordination, and decision-making.

On this occasion, the development of a national Code of Conduct for beaches was also announced. This code will outline the required conduct and etiquette on the beach, with underlying principles such as respect for others, contributing to a friendly atmosphere, and maintaining a clean beach environment.