Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior docks in Port Louis, highlighting Mauritius's role in Indian Ocean protection
via Le Mauricien4 min read
Greenpeace's iconic vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, made a four-day stop in Port Louis, Mauritius, to support the country's leadership in ocean governance and protection of the Indian Ocean. This visit is part of a regional tour across Africa and the Indian Ocean, where Greenpeace Africa collaborates with communities and partners on ocean protection issues. The stop in Mauritius emphasized listening, exchanging ideas, and building collective momentum with local stakeholders. The captain of the Rainbow Warrior, Emili Trasmonte, noted that while the message about the ocean's importance is universal, in Port Louis, they found a community already understanding the stakes and ready to act. The visit included a roundtable discussion, training sessions for youth, guided ship tours, and community engagement activities focused on awareness, knowledge transfer, and citizen mobilization. The discussions aim to draw attention to threats facing the Indian Ocean, such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change. A key focus is the protection of the Saya de Malha Bank, the world's largest seagrass bed located in Mauritian waters, which is threatened by deep-sea exploitation projects. The United Nations High Seas Treaty now provides a legal framework for creating Marine Protected Areas in the high seas, an opportunity Mauritius is well-positioned to seize with Greenpeace Africa's support. The visit also highlighted the need to end destructive industrial fishing practices that harm marine ecos
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