Eco-Sud Restores 50% of Corals Affected by Cyclone Belal

The passage of Cyclone Belal in January 2024 revealed the vulnerability of coral restoration projects along the Southeast coast. Eco-Sud, a non-governmental organization (NGO) involved in these initiatives, has recently published an assessment of the situation after losing over 13,000 coral fragments in the region.

While the recovery has been promising—growing from 7,832 saved fragments in February to 15,020 by August—there remains a pressing need for measures to prepare for future adverse weather conditions.

In February 2024, following Cyclone Belal, Eco-Sud raised alarms about coral bleaching in the Grand Port and Pointe d’Esny areas.

This phenomenon was attributed to increased sedimentation from torrential rains linked to the cyclone, impacting this area situated between the sea and mountains.

Notably, corals that had previously withstood strong waves found themselves vulnerable.

In the nurseries set up for coral restoration, conditions were disheartening; of the 21,169 fragments originally installed in the Grand Port region, only 7,832 remained.

Six months later, Eco-Sud’s August Progress Report outlines the efforts taken to address the damage.

The loss of over 13,000 coral fragments in the nurseries marked a setback both environmentally and financially.

“We had to find the necessary resources to repopulate the nurseries and achieve our initial goals,” explained Eco-Sud.

Their restoration project, initiated in 2021 after the Wakashio oil spill and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to restore 1.6 hectares of coral reefs in the Blue Bay marine park, involving the transplantation of 80,000 coral fragments to regenerate critical marine habitats.

By August 2024, the team engaged in this project, which includes trained local residents from the Southeast coast, successfully restored coral fragment numbers to 15,020.

Although they have not yet reached the initial 21,169 fragments, significant progress has been made, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of the project.

The next crucial phase is the transplantation of mature fragments onto previously identified reefs where they can continue to thrive.

However, the work does not end there. A critical question remains: how to prevent similar incidents in the future?

“The impact of Cyclone Belal highlighted the vulnerability of our coral nurseries to extreme weather conditions.

We must implement new strategies to mitigate these effects,” stated Eco-Sud.

In addition to losses from strong waves, sedimentation, and altered salinity, more robust structures need to be developed to support the corals.

To address these challenges, Eco-Sud has adopted four proactive measures.

First, the monitoring protocol has been revised to implement an early warning system that allows for rapid response to adverse weather conditions.

Second, the structure of the nurseries has been reinforced to better withstand currents and sedimentation.

The scientific team is also focusing on identifying locations less vulnerable to extreme conditions for future nurseries and transplantation efforts.

Lastly, there will be an emphasis on coral species exhibiting greater resilience to environmental stressors, increasing survival odds and enhancing biodiversity within the restoration of coral reefs.

Moreover, Eco-Sud is participating in the pilot project Sandwatch, initiated by the Indian Ocean Commission, aimed at raising awareness about coastal environments among students.

Engaging local students and teachers in scientific beach observation is a key component of this initiative. Eco-Sud has conducted training sessions at Hamilton (Boys) College and Lorette College in Mahébourg, focusing on identifying and assessing threats while developing sustainable approaches to address them.

Source: Le Mauricien