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Shells have been disappearing from the beaches of Mauritius for the past three decades
When I visited Mauritius during a teenage family vacation, I remember the sand on the shell-strewn beaches. But as he returns to the Indian Ocean archipelago to report on the effects of climate change, the stretches of fine sand look desolate.
Collecting hundreds of different shells that my father had collected back then would be an impossible feat now.
This comes as no surprise to 14-year-old climate change activist Anish Mungur. He says he has hardly seen a shell in his whole life.
“I find it sad that the shells are gone. I feel the island is already suffering from the consequences of climate change, and there is more work to be done to protect it before it is too late.”
Shells have always played an important role in the culture of Mauritius (or Mauritius): o Monetaria Episode, known as the golden ring conch, is used as a love gift or good luck charm.
a Currency It was very popular in the area as well. It is known as the money welk because it has been used for thousands of years as currency in some parts of Africa.
warmer water
The number of shells on the island has fallen by 60% over the past three decades, says oceanographer Vasin Kawbaymuthu.
He attributes these changes to the warming of the oceans, economic activities such as overfishing and tourism, and pollution from sewage and ships.
Mauritius is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. It has increasingly suffered from rising sea levels, droughts and hurricanes.
Rising seawater temperatures have affected much of the ecosystem, including the seashells in which the mollusks live, while the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere “is acidifying the ocean, causing their shells to thin,” he explains. Kawbaymuthu.
“This makes it difficult for the mollusks to produce their shells.”
All of this has a ripple effect and devastating consequences for coral reefs and the ecosystem around the islands.
“When you don’t have oysters, you don’t have predators. Then there are other creatures that start to reproduce, causing an imbalance in the ecosystem on the tropical island and around the world.”
Small fish and octopuses also use their shells for shelter and protection, and many birds use shell parts to build their nests.
Anish, who is part of the Fridays for Future Mauritius movement, says more must also be done to prevent environmental disasters, such as the massive oil spill that hit the island in 2020.
About 1,000 tons of fuel oil from the Japanese-flagged ship MV Wakashio spilled into the ocean after it ran aground on coral reefs, causing the worst environmental disaster in Mauritius.
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The local government has adopted rules to prevent the collection and export of missiles
“Our marine environment has been greatly affected, including corals, mollusks and other organisms. The islands are still suffering from what happened.”
This incident destroyed about 300 meters of coral reef, killed many fish and affected both the environment and the livelihood of the fishermen.
For the teen activist, it’s about creating awareness around the world. “I don’t think a lot of people realize the importance of seashells and how vulnerable they are to climate change.”
Collective funnel
Kauppaymuthoo also blames shell collectors (also known as miners) for the low amount of shells on the beaches of Mauritius, where they are often harvested with live animals still inside.
The local government is trying to prevent people from collecting shells and selling them to tourists. Two laws on this topic have been approved in the past fifteen years.
credit, Alia Abu Bakr
The father of journalist Nora Fakim collected a huge collection of missiles during his youth in the area.
Under current rules, only 10 shells can be legally collected as souvenirs by visitors and only on beaches where high and low tide signs can be seen.
But while the collection of shells was limited (it’s now also illegal to export them), it’s hard to stop people from putting these beautiful souvenirs in their bags.
“Don’t take them off the beaches,” urges Kauppaymuthoo, adding that the shells also prevent coastal erosion.
The higher the number of shells, the greater the barrier to wind, waves and water currents to move sediment from the coast.
So what’s your advice for anyone looking to remember their tropical vacation? “Watch the shells and take pictures of them. That way you can have good memories and also know that you’re saving them.”
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