Mauritius Asserts Sovereign Right to Fish in Expanded EEZ

In a passionate address to Parliament on Friday, Minister of Agro-Industry, Arvin Boolell, declared that Mauritians have the moral, legal, and legitimate authority to fish in the country’s expanded Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Citing a statement by British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, in the House of Commons, Boolell noted that Mauritius has sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.

“Why should we be a net importer of fish when we can fish in any part of the Chagos, once an agreement is reached with the UK?” Boolell asked, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in food production.

“I don’t see why we should be a net importer of fish. When I talk about self-sufficiency, I’m not just talking about fishing more, but also about preserving local crops like potatoes, onions, and legumes, and implementing cross-border initiatives for self-sufficiency.”

Boolell, who represented the Prime Minister at the African Agricultural Global Development Program, said that the program is encouraging countries to allocate 10% of their public expenditure to food production.

“I made it clear that there’s a threshold we can use, as we’re an oceanic state.

Even if we invest in land-based production, we must ensure that we expand opportunities for those who will benefit from the ocean’s resources.

We must move forward and ensure that institutions deliver on their promises. But we need skills and commitment, and this government is showing leadership.

For too long, the country has been complacent.”

The Minister called on operators and producers to shake off their lethargy and seize opportunities. “It’s time to wake up and take action.

We’re encouraging the optimization of land use through agricultural mapping and land planning.

We’ll create special agricultural zones in collaboration with the MSIA and the Land Use Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.

We’ll also publish a map with clear decisions on land suitability for specific crops.

India is ready to offer immediate technical assistance to accelerate the process.”

Regarding the sugar industry, Boolell said that the previous government failed to protect small planters, leading to their decline.

The new government is planning to counter this threat by increasing the sugar price to Rs 35,000 per tonne to support them, with prices potentially varying between Rs 38,000 and Rs 45,000 per tonne.

The production of specialty sugars for niche markets will be encouraged to maximize yields.

Boolell also highlighted the development of biomass production using bagasse, bamboo, and sugarcane waste to achieve the goal of producing 60% of the country’s electricity needs from biomass.

In the context of developing the blue economy, Boolell emphasized the need to promote sustainable fishing, build a fishing port, and establish an international auction market.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening surveillance and monitoring to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as developing marine biotechnology to exploit high-value ocean resources and promoting aquaculture as a viable alternative to traditional fishing.

The Minister announced that Vietnam is ready to share its experience and partner with Mauritius, with a second National Oceanic Economy Dialogue to be launched to innovate policy.

“The last dialogue was held in 2013 and led to the creation of the largest marine protected area to ensure long-term ocean sustainability and the development of blue carbon sinks as part of our commitment to climate change mitigation.

We’ll also establish a national marine protected area to improve biodiversity and create blue carbon sinks in line with our sustainability commitment.”

Boolell warned that food security and blue resilience are under threat and announced plans to intensify reforestation efforts to protect soil biodiversity.

The introduction of smart irrigation systems and water harvesting techniques, as well as the construction of the Rivière des Anguilles dam, which has been long overdue, have been assured by the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities.

“We have a plan for change, and everyone is on board,” the Minister declared.

Source: Le Mauricien