By Rajaram Luximon, Mauritius
As an islander, the sea and ocean are very common features for me and have always been part of my life. However, they have also been synonymous with both happiness and threats for me.
First, the happiness part. The vast stretches of sea surrounding Mauritius have often provided me with happiness. We often do picnics on some of the sandy beaches on the coastline.
I also remember the happiness I witnessed when one day I travelled by sea to visit St Brandon (a Mauritian archipelago). A sense of the vastness of the ocean was witnessed at that time. While I visited the St Brandon islets, the pristine nature of the marine and coastal environment that I observed reminded me of the importance of protecting these areas.
However, the sea and ocean have not always meant happiness for me, and there have been many situations where they have been experienced as threats. One of the threats happened while I was travelling by a small wooden boat on sea to undertake a cleanup activity on Ile de la Passe (an offshore islet of Mauritius). While approaching the islet, a huge wave heavily pushed the boat onto the rocky shore of the islet and this accident could have been fatal.
The MV Wakashio oil spill (Image source: https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/49085/mauritius-worst-environmental-disaster-one-year-on/)
Another threat from the sea occurred quite recently. As a desk officer for the oil spill contingency planning of my country at that time, an internationally known incident occurred at sea. On 25 July 2020 at around 8.00 p.m., I learnt that a ship named MV Wakashio had grounded on the reefs in the southeastern part of Mauritius.
My life changed dramatically following that ship grounding incident, whereby as a desk officer for oil spills I had to work for long hours for many months to help to redress the situation. I remember the day it happened, when an oil spill eventually occurred from the grounded ship on 6th August 2020. This situation was like a nightmare in my life, and I often think about how this could have been prevented. The MV Wakashio oil spill was eventually a disastrous situation and took quite a long time to be cleaned up.
The sea has therefore been an important part of my life, both from positive and negative perspectives. MSP also involves the consideration of indigenous and local knowledge and views from those who live in and use the seascape. My personal experiences and indigenous and local knowledge/experiences from other relevant non-sector stakeholders can be a source of inspiration for feeding into the MSP process, so as to ensure an equitable sea governance.
“Journeys to the Sea” is a new series of inspiring stories that highlight the personal connections of marine professionals with the ocean. As a follow up to World Oceans Day on June 8th, WIOMSA is excited to launch a three-month-long celebration dedicated to the ocean. The series will feature 34 unique stories from across the Western Indian Ocean region. These stories will share firsthand accounts of ocean-related experiences, reflections, and narratives from participants who have been part of the Sida-funded International Training Programme on marine spatial planning, “Planning for a Sustainable Blue Future in the Western Indian Ocean”. The stories have been part of the Ocean Storytelling component of the workshop, led by Dr Mia Strand, Nelson Mandela University. Read the collection of stories here.
Feature photo: Ile de la Passe (in the forefront) off Mauritius with its rocky shore. Image source: https://www.ileauxcerfswatersports.com/product/south-east-island-discovery/
