Mauritius, being a small island, has limited space to put waste. With modern products and imports, and the growth of industry and tourism, more and more waste is being dumped in the sea. Sewage is mainly pumped out to sea, without treatment, and pollution is increasing with the growth of the population and tourism.
This can eventually destroy the coral reefs which play an important role in calming the energy of the waves, providing vital protection to the shores. Coral reefs are a major contributory factor to the beautiful beaches which attract many tourists to the island.
What happened on the coast of Spain with the sinking of the tanker Prestige some time ago should be an eyeopener not only for the inhabitants of Mauritius but also the world.
If such an incident had happened on the coast of Mauritius, it would certainly been have the death of the island, in relation to its small size as well as its economy. It would have also been the end of the tourist industry.
This is just an example to illustrate the effect of pollution on Mauritius. But in the coming years an alarming increase in the amount of waste dumped in the sea could cause an outcome similar to the pollution caused by the catastrophe of the tanker. MRU must combat this problem before it is too late.
Klaus
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