On 25 July, the 300 meter-long bulk carrier ship, MV Wakashio, ran aground while transiting past the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius near Pointe d’Esny and Blue Bay Marine Park. This designated marine life sanctuary is home to world-renowned coral reefs, including a 1,000 year old brain coral, and a remarkable diversity of tropical marine species.

The oil spill is a tragedy for the ocean and the people of Mauritius that are so connected to and dependent on it - Read how the local dive community and volunteers are responding to this environmental emergency #OneOceanOnePlanet#MauritiusOilSpillhttps://t.co/5TwZECvMtL

— Project AWARE (@projectaware) August 18, 2020

The oil spill is a tragedy for the ocean and the people of Mauritius that are so connected to and dependent on it. On the back of the global coronavirus pandemic, the oil spill is a second major blow for this small island nation that relies heavily on tourism. Mauritius and its 1.3 million residents greatly depend on a healthy environment, above and below the surface. As they now watch years of conservation work being undone, it is that much more awe-inspiring to see the community come together to do what they can with the resources they have.

Since the vessel first started leaking oil, the people of Mauritius have shown incredible dedication and unity by coming together to try and mitigate the oil spill’s impacts. Local volunteers – including divers, fishermen, environmentalists, and non-profit organizations – are driving much of the relief effort and clean-up operations.

There has been a very quick response from our dive community in the south east of Mauritius, and many other supporters from multiple dive centers which are currently involved in the cleanup of the lagoon and shore.

says Mukesh Buldewa, PADI® Course Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blue World Explorer Adventures. 

It has been a very strenuous battle, day and night, with everyone from the local people who were ready to help in whatever way they could to contain this oil spill and prevent more damages to cause to our ecosystem. Really a great human chain of solidarity.

Community Efforts

Containment booms and absorbers are being made from all available materials that can either float or soak up oil – including plastic jugs, straw, palm fronds, fabric and even human hair.

Mauritians are making floating booms of human hair and leaves in a round-the-clock scramble to mop up oil leaking from a grounded Japanese ship onto their pristine Indian Ocean beaches https://t.co/DCdlLjHYHK 1/2 pic.twitter.com/gqFnWct7I3

— Reuters Science News (@ReutersScience) August 10, 2020

It’s incredible to witness a community of divers, fishermen, families and children devote their time to secure the future of their livelihood.

says Tony Andrews PADI Course Director at Crystal Divers Mauritius and founder of Go Eco Phuket.

The people of #Mauritius are marching, and we support them. We ask that government action focuses on the future of Mauritius through a clean-up that will enable long-term environmental recovery #RecoverRestoreProtect?? #MauritiusOilSpillpic.twitter.com/OeC2jELZ7z

— Project AWARE (@projectaware) August 26, 2020

Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Japan have sent an open letter to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and the Nagashiki Shipping Company with demands for further action to reduce the consequences of this disaster

The #oilspill is devastating but I want to honour the community mobilisation at the Mahebourg waterfront today (to make containment booms) and every other Mauritian mobilising resources behind the scenes. Hats off et Merci. #Mauritius#Wakashiopic.twitter.com/4nJfrVn1Zm

— Fabiola Monty (@LFabiolaMonty) August 7, 2020

How You Can Help

1. Use Your Voice —Share this information with divers, friends and families so that we can all put this environmental emergency at the forefront of our agendas.

2. Connect with PADI Dive Shops in Mauritius — Dive shops in Mauritius are working tirelessly to reduce the impacts of the oil spill and these shops welcome your support.

3. Donate — There are several local organizations and PADI dive shops accepting donations to find on-going relief efforts. 

• Long-standing NGO Mauritius Wildlife Foundation is accepting donations on their website.

• Conservationist Oliver Ah-Choung has a Facebook Fundraising page on-behalf of local environmental NGO, Eco-Sud.

#MauritiusOilSpill
➡️ Community efforts
➡️ How you can help
➡️ What's next
A tragedy for the ocean and the people of Mauritius that are so connected to and dependent on it https://t.co/MlOvWUSSOs@crystaldiversmu@PADI@OurOcean@LFabiolaMonty#Mauritius#OneOceanOnePlanetpic.twitter.com/FuXttoJhze

— Project AWARE (@projectaware) August 24, 2020

What's Next for the Mauritius Oil Spill?

We hope these lessons learned from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster can provide some useful perspective to those involved in the #Mauritius oil spill response, and the eventual ecological restoration that must follow.

More via our own Chris Robbins:https://t.co/CITxZUwx8X

— Ocean Conservancy (@OurOcean) August 20, 2020

In order to address the challenges that #Mauritius will face because of this disaster, we need to fully understand the impacts. We ask the Mauritian government to document the damage across the whole ecosystem. #RecoverRestoreProtect?? #MauritiusOilSpillpic.twitter.com/C9ilY0hN3d

— Project AWARE (@projectaware) August 26, 2020

Header Photo by Xavier Coiffic on Unsplash