Mauritius - Shoals Rodrigues

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Like many reputable holiday companies we are ABTA registered, our ABTA membership number is 65310.

We also use ATOL protected tour operators. However if you wish to use a tour operator who is not ATOL protected then we will take our supplier failure insurance on your behalf.

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Shoals Rodrigues is a non-governmental organisation, which developed from the Shoals of Capricorn Programme, a three-year initiative led by the Royal Geographical Society.

The new organisation was established in September 2001 to continue the marine research, education and training activities on Rodrigues. With the combination of these three disciplines good progress is being made towards discovering more about the seas around Rodrigues and promoting sustainable resource use and marine conservation.

The Shoals Centre is based at Pointe Monier, on the outskirts of Port Mathurin, alongside the government agencies which have responsibility for the sea, such as the Coastguard, the Fisheries Protection Service and the Fisheries Research and Training Unit. Our work focuses on collecting information about the Rodrigues lagoon and seas, which can be used to improve the management of the important fishery resources and protect the biodiversity and health of the marine ecosystem. Our most recent project is the establishment of marine reserves around Rodrigues. We have just finalised a draft management plan for four northern marine reserves to aid the sustainability of the fisheries sector and the viability of alternative livelihoods for those who depend on fishing.

The Shoals Rodrigues Centre is run by a committed group of young Rodriguans with the help of a newly established board of trustees. Our work on the reef fisheries, zooplankton populations and the effect of land-based sediments has been developed in collaboration with foreign experts. We have been carrying out an extensive programme of coral reef surveys to monitor the health of the reef ecosystem and now have ten years’ worth of data on the reefs of Rodrigues.

With training in the scientific collection and analysis techniques this local team is working towards building up important long-term data sets. Many new skills and techniques have been taught to a wide range of people on the island. These range from first aid, lifesaving and diving qualifications to marine tourist guide training. We also regularly visit fishing villages to give first aid and swimming training to fishermen and to discuss marine ecology and resource use.

Shoals Rodrigues is also a thriving centre for young people who come to learn more about the marine environment through ‘Club Mer’.

The work of Shoals Rodrigues is supported by private donations, as well as a variety of organisations in Mauritius and abroad: the Decentralised Cooperation Programme, the Indian Ocean Commission, North of England Zoological Society, the United Nations Development Programme, GEF-SGP, the British and Australian high commissions, Barclays Bank, the US National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Sea Trust, as well as many others.

Visitors are welcome to come and see the work of the organisation at Pointe Monier. Contact Jovani Raffin (% 831 1225). If you would like to help or find out more please see our website at shoals-rodrigues.net.

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