Marine World heritage, Comoros and Mayotte

Countries of the Western Indian Ocean, have many marine protected areas that harbour an exceptional biodiversity. One of them is located in Comoros. Situated in the northern Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and the east coast of Africa, Comoros consists of many small islands as well as the four main ones namely Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Moheli (Mwali), Anjouan (Nzwani) and Mayotte (Maore). Mayotte, however, voted against independence and is part of French overseas territories.

Mayotte is the easternmost and oldest island of the Comoros archipelago. It is surrounded by one of the largest inner lagoons, spanning some 1,100 km2 with countless coral reefs, making it a paradise for divers. Comprising the southeasternmost islands of the Comoros, Mayotte is divided in two islands: Petite Terre and Grande Terre. Mayotte is almost entirely bordered by a 197 km barrier reef, with deep lagoon through the reefs. The average depth of the lagoon is 20 m, with 80 m being the deepest in the western region. Within the lagoon, an internal double barrier reef is present in several segments over a length of over 18 km, a unique feature in the Indian Ocean. Several other reef formations are present in the lagoon: pinnacles, patch reefs and fringing reefs. There are some 20 small islets surrounded by fringing reefs and it is estimated that seagrass beds covered an area of 7,6 km2, which were mostly situated on the eastern barrier reef and along the western shore of the larger Grande Terre Island. Sheltered by the fury of the Indian Ocean, the Mayotte lagoon is a haven of peace for a very diverse fauna and flora. A true natural aquarium, there are at least 300 different species of coral, 760 species of tropical fish, 2 types of sea turtles, hawksbill turtles and green turtles and 22 species of marine mammals, ¼ of the world’s diversity. A recent census of the “National Inventory of Natural Heritage” lists no less than 3,600 marine species. This part of the world serves as a refuge for large marine mammals including whales and dolphins, reptiles such as turtles and marine snakes and a myriad of other iconic species such as dugongs, manta rays, sharks, parrotfish humpback, the Napoleon fish, and many others.

Some of the emblematic species of the lagoon, however, have seen their population decline in recent years and some are even threatened with extinction now. According to Mayotte network of marine mammals and sea turtles stranding (REMMAT), almost 300 turtles were poached in 2015, at least 10% of the total number of sea turtles on the island each year. A scourge that is similar of the gradual disappearance of dugong overfished throughout the area. Baby turtles are part of the food chain of Mayotte waters and are important prey for numbers of fish and seabirds. By feeding on seagrass, green turtles stimulate their growth. These grass beds retain sediment that comes from the earth and thus avoid siltation and destruction of adjacent reef and allows the survival of all plant and animal species associated with coral reef. As well as being crucial for Mayotte environment, sea turtles also represented a priceless natural capital for ecotourism activities development attracting numbers of divers, snorkelers and other travellers looking for animal encounters. To fight against poaching, the marine park, the county council, the customs field, along with the nature brigade coordinate their monitoring actions. The law prohibits the capture, mutilation, and deliberate disturbance of green and hawksbill turtles but also the destruction and degradation of their habitats or the removal of their eggs. Mayotte also follows a very strict regulation of species preservation while carrying out awareness campaigns.

The Government of the Comoros has engaged for years in projects aimed at the promotion of a sustainable management of the marine environment. The Union of the Comoros, as it is officially known, is one of the smallest island nations in the world. The combined area of this volcanic archipelago (including Mayotte) is 2,235 km², compared, the island nation is slightly smaller than Luxembourg or also slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Rhode Island. In the Comoros island of Moheli, a National Marine Park, was established in April 2001, by presidential decree. This is a sanctuary for many species and ecosystems representative at the regional and international. This is the first nesting site in the archipelago for the green turtle, an important breeding area for humpback whales and a refuge for the conservation of dugongs. The Marine Park of Moheli is adjacent to the watershed of Mount Mledjelé where the nest of the largest bats in the world endemic of the Comoros (Pteropus livingstonni), and many regional endemic bird species are located. Moheli Marine Park is known for its importance in the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal natural resources at national level and in the western Indian Ocean. The establishment of the park represented the culmination of a multi-stakeholder process begun in 1993, when the government introduced a National Environmental Policy designed to halt the spiral of environmental degradation. This was the first time the government had sought to work with local communities in resource management aiming to both identify socioeconomic needs and to raise awareness of the need for conservation. This Marine Protected Area covering a 404 km2 of ocean extending from the southern coast of the island was chosen for its rich biological diversity, including the presence of key coastal coral and mangrove forest habitats, and endangered marine species such as humpback whales, sea turtle and dugong. As a matter of fact, this is the only area of the Comoros, where visitors can still see the Dugong. This fragile species was once subjected to intensive hunting during the 30 years preceding the creation of the protected area. The dolphins and the humpback whale are the most common marine mammal that present in large numbers in the mating season from July to November after a long migration from polar waters of Antarctica. Altogether, the island is a tropical paradise, home to more than 500 species of plants, 21 species of birds, and nine species of reptiles. Flagship species for conservation include the endemic Livingstone’s Fruit Bat (Pteropus livingstonii), a giant bat with a wingspan of more than one metre, that numbered only 1,200 individuals in 2003. The beaches are an important nesting ground for green sea turtles, while the waters surrounding it are home to the coelacanth, a rare prehistoric fish with limb-like fins that was thought to be extinct until 1938. Other key species include the corals, sea cucumbers, and the large gastropod Turbo marmoratus. The island is also home to Lake Bundouni, a Ramsar site and the largest body of freshwater in the Comoros, which is a nesting site for hundreds of migratory bird species.