The process of replanting coral is not new and many island nations are today doing this with a lot of success, but the Mauritius example where delegates at a tourism conference were invited to be party to the program struck the right cord and everyone felt good being part of such a noble cause.
Invited delegates at the Mauritius Tourism Conference last week rallied at the Beachcomber Trou aux Biches for a coral planting expedition in the lagoon in front of the hotel itself. Fatima Chuttoo, the Executive Assistant Manager of the Hotel was on hand to welcome everyone and guided them to the assembly point to be briefed by two officials from the Coral Planting program.
Minister Anil Gayan of Mauritius lead the delegation boarding a small flotilla accompanied by Coast Guards to a prepared area for the replanting corals to be effected. A container of sea water with young coral bits was placed on board each of the boats and each delegate was invited to follow the example of Minister Gayan and attach the young coral bits to a rope. Television Screen were positioned in each of the boats so that participants could follow as divers positioned ropes of young coral over the frame on the sea bed.
Mauritius has a solid program for replanting corals and some five types of corals are being successfully planted over three main sites for now.
The conference delegates all said that they attend a number of tourism conferences and it was a first to be invited to be part of a coral planting program. This message was echoed by Minister Catherine Afeku of Ghana among many others.