Eco-Sud has led coral-restoration efforts in the Grand Port Fishing Reserve since 2017, building local capacity while regenerating reef ecosystems. Our current UNDP-funded programme at Blue Bay Marine Park (BBMP)—a biodiversity hotspot—places community leadership at the centre of restoration. The aim is not only ecological recovery but also local empowerment and inclusive conservation.
Resilient reef-building corals are propagated asexually in underwater nurseries, then out-planted to degraded sites using spider frames and concrete bases. These stable substrates improve attachment, reduce storm damage, and accelerate habitat recovery, creating refuge for fish and invertebrates.
Crucially, Eco-Sud trains and collaborates with beneficiaries from vulnerable coastal neighbourhoods in every step: nursery setup and maintenance, monitoring, and out-planting inside the marine park. This hands-on approach nurtures ocean stewardship while providing short-term income and new skills, strengthening household resilience alongside reef health.
By uniting people, science, and place, the initiative showcases a replicable model for the Western Indian Ocean: climate-aware techniques, rigorous monitoring, and strong community ownership working together to restore one of Mauritius’ most iconic reefs.