Les Assises de L’Ócean 2025’on Saturday 18 October 2025

Jill Holloway
Oct 29
4 min read

Ocean Spirit and Pat n Joe sponsored BOS (Big Island States)together with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries in promoting Ocean Awareness in Mauritius: The Minister and Junior Minister, together with the Ambassador of the European Union and the Australian High Commissioer participated in the Youth, Gender and Social Awareness Ocean Exploration Day, with the following objectives:

● Providing youth, women, and local communities opportunities to explore and connect with the ocean through free diving and scuba diving

Zandile Nglovu, The Bloack Mermaid, introducing young women to the free-diving sport

● Democratise access to ocean-related recreational activities and break barriers to entry through sponsorships and prizes donated by the hosts

● Promote ocean literary, sustainable practices, and ocean stewardship amongst youth, women and local communities.

● Foster inclusive dialogue on ocean governance, with particular focus on gender and social awareness.

● Showcase innovative programs such as Blue SALT (Submerge, Assess, Listen, Take Action) –

They decided to take a large group of underprivileged young men and women for a day of ocean discovery.

A group of young men signing in to be introduced to the ocean for the first time

Our Ocean, Our Future – The Hon Gilles Fabrice David

On Saturday the Hon Fabrice David Junior Minister Blue Economy and Fisheries in Mauritius experienced his first Discover Scuba Dive. His comment:

Yesterday, I fully embraced the ocean and took the underwater oath to become one of its most dedicated protectors.”

When a government minister decides to see for himself what the ocean looks like below the surface, we can be assured that the future of the Indian Ocean is in the right hands.

The Hon Fabrice David preparing to Descover Scuba Dicing with Ocean Spirit.

Zandile Ndlovu The Black Mermaid came to teach a group of young women to free dive.

Twelve young men participated in a Discover Scuba Diving program with the Junior Minister Gilles Fabrice Pierre himself and the Head of BOSI Shabir Esmael, the EU Ambassador, and members of the Australian High Commission. It was fantastic.

We rarely see this level of engagement from a politician and member of government together with local communities, and this is a very hopeful sign for the future of scuba diving in the Indian Ocean. The BOSI (Big Island States Initiative ) together with the Ministry of Blue Economy which now includes Fish and Agro Industry is promoting Ocean awareness in Mauritius:

Bernard, honoured to be one of the first Mauritians to teach a Minister to discover scuba diving.

We have already had the privilege of engaging with the new Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Sydney Jean Pierre. He is already a scuba diver, and he recognizes the importance of scuba diving to the National Economy. With these two men in key portfolios Mauritius is fortunate, and the Indian Ocean appears to be in safe hands.

THE CHAGOS

Since the addition of the Chagos Islands, Mauritius with 3 million square kilometers under its control has become the world’s 3 largest states by square kilometers. Bigger than India, smaller than Russian and China. Composed primarily of the Indian ocean and with full control over the bulk of its marine resources, the addition of the Chagos has been a game changer for tourism. Already pristine, already protected, and already with an airfield- it looks like a gilded opportunity for scuba diving. Mauritius has always been exclusive, with powerful controls over it marine resources, and now there is an even stronger incentive to protect them.

The Mauritius Fisheries and Marine Resources Act of 2023

The Fisheries and Marine Resources Act of 2023 is the primary resource for the protection of our reefs and our marine world.

Objectives of Act

The general objective of this Act shall be to ensure the long-term conservation, management and development of fisheries and aquaculture in Mauritius while safeguarding the marine resources, biodiversity, environment and ecosystems for the benefit of the people of Mauritius. Fabrice David has re-stated this objective very clearly in his commitment to protect the ocean.

Incentivize don’t penalize

The Mauritian Government has a buyback plan dating back to 2016 to pay MUR 450 000 to fishers to give up their nets, and the Sydney Jean Pierre confirmed that this incentive would be upgraded. All fishing is controlled by the issue of licenses, and arbitrary controls are not an option. Do not tell a Mauritian not to catch fish when for 300 years his family has done exactly that. Rather offer to buy his nets, and license his boat for tourism trips, then train him as a marine tour guide. Incentives are the solution. Protect the lagoons to preserve the new seasons fish.

Scuba Diving and Tourism

The scuba diving industry fits perfectly into the Mauritius Tourism offering. Mauritius has a unique advantage for diver training.

• Shallow lagoons

• Safe reefs close to shore

• Blue water

• White sand •

Colorful soft corals •

Only the Gili Island in Indonesia has such an offering, and they are top in the world for Padi Training. Mauritius is heading towards becoming the next PADI Scuba Diving Training favoured destinaition. PADI and Google have made a deal to link Scuba Diving on the platform things to do, and this fits well with the Mauritian offering.