The Mauritian oil spill poses a threat to the island’s fragile ecosystems and its people

Mauritius, located 1,200 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa, is known worldwide for its variety of island and marine ecosystems. However, a recent oil spill threatens the biodiversity of the region as well as the livelihoods of people on the island. 

The oil spill occurred when the Japanese ship MV Wakashio was traveling on a major Indian Ocean shipping highway and ran aground on a coral reef off Mauritius’ southern coast on July 25. Bad weather resulted in cracks in the hull which started to appear on Aug. 5 with gradual leaking of oil into the ocean beginning the next day. Mauritians have worked tirelessly to contain the spill using barriers made out of old pieces of sugarcane, straw and even human hair. The Mauritian government instituted its national oil spill contingency plan on Aug. 7 and has begun to receive international assistance. A French team from the neighboring island of Reunion helped to erect ocean booms to minimize the spread of oil, working alongside marine ecologists from Japan and the United Kingdom. The United Nations also sent a team of experts on oil spills and crisis management to Mauritius to work with local communities, government officials and the private sector. The oil spill has been declared the worst in Mauritius' history. 

The environmental implications of the spill are one of the most pressing concerns. The MV Wakashio has leaked at least 1,000 tons of oil into the Indian Ocean as of Sept. 2. Despite the fact that over 75% of the oil has been removed by cleanup efforts, there is a risk of harmful water-soluble molecules remaining in the ocean. Although only 9 miles of Mauritius’ coastline was affected by the spill, the oil slick is in an internationally recognized biodiversity hot spot north of Blue Bay Marine Park, which contains 38 types of coral and 78 types of fish. Corals and other filter feeders are predicted to be impacted first and face weakened resistance due to rising ocean temperatures. Marine biologists are also concerned about mangrove trees along the coast, since their roots provide a nursery for fish and other marine organisms. The small island of Ile-aux-Aigrettes, which is home to the endangered pink pigeon, was deeply affected by the spill. Additionally, the spill released a new low-sulfur type of fuel with unknown environmental impacts. 

Environmental concerns aside, the oil spill holds severe implications for the health and well-being of local communities. Fishing in contaminated areas is no longer possible because the fish contain poisonous levels of arsenic. As a small island nation, Mauritius’ economy is heavily reliant on fishing and tourism, with tourism accounting for $1.6 billion of Mauritius’ economy last year (11.3% of the gross domestic product) and employing one-fifth of the country’s workforce. The tourism sector has already been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the international airport remains closed to visitors. 

On top of this, the oil spill poses severe health risks for islanders. Thousands of Mauritians helped with the cleanup effort, exposing themselves to high levels of pollution. Dr. Yanesh Bishundat treated 150 Mauritians who had assisted with cleanup efforts for symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, scrapes, eye wounds, headaches and skin rashes. Not all individuals had access to personal protective equipment either. According to Dr. Bishundat, “Since it was like a rush and everyone wanted to help, many people did not have the right kind of gear. We were not prepared for this.” Although some individuals were wearing masks to protect themselves from COVID-19, masks do not protect against air contaminated with hydrocarbons. As the events of the spill continue to unfold, the long-term effects on the environment and people of Mauritius remain to be seen.