Voluntary Marine Conservation Area

Voluntary Marine Conservation Area or VMCA are an alternative concept to traditional Marine Protected Areas (MPA). These are designated locations within the lagoons where resources users and coastal communities have agreed to refrain from engaging in destructive or extractive activities. The primary objective is to protect the marine environment by involving the community on a voluntary basis, thereby reducing human pressure exerted on marine ecosystems.

Extent of Conserved Area

The first VMCA was established in Roches Noires in 2011, and it was followed by another in Anse La Raie in 2014. In 2021, both areas were expanded, protecting 16 hectares of seagrass ecosystems in Roches Noires and 69 hectares of coral ecosystem in Anse La Raie. The VMCA of Roches Noires contains all five existing seagrass species in Mauritius, while the one in Anse La Raie contains 59 fish species.

Highlights from the VMCA’s Past Work

• Between 2012 and 2017, training over 40 individuals as marine eco-guides was carried out to promote environmental stewardship.
• Reef Conservation led various awareness campaigns, including open days attracting at least 1600 participants.
• Additionally, the NGO developed communication tools such as information panel to promote the VMCA, established a snorkeling trail with fixed mooring buoys to protect corals from anchor damage, and produced a video illustrating the concept of the VMCA.

Essential Elements for Effective VMCA Management

• Management: The successful implementation of the VMCA is rooted in the strong interest of local communities in conservation and preserving key ecosystems. Managed by a local committee, it provides a platform for making decisions that benefit both the environment and the community. A code of conduct is essential as it establishes rules and guidelines for behaviour within the area. Additionally, a management plan serves as a roadmap, outlining specific goals, objectives, and strategies for sustainable area management.
• Education and Awareness: It empowers individuals to make informed choices and decisions to protect marine resources. When people understand the consequences of their actions, they are more likely to adopt behaviours that minimize harm to the environment.
• Research and Monitoring: They are crucial for understanding the health of marine ecosystems, tracking changes over time, and assessing the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

Current Project : Strengthening the Anse La Raie Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) Post COVID-19 Crisis

Following restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 crisis, most actions to maintain this environmental stewardship process and community involvement have been stalled. The current project, funded by Mauritius Commercial Bank, aims to restrengthen the VMCA management and dynamize its community committee.
This project is guided by five specific objectives:

1. Re-investigate the stakeholder and community perception of the VMCA as a tool for environmental conservation.
2. Re-assess the biodiversity within the VMCA post COVID-19 to improve knowledge of its status and create a map.
3. Re-design a management plan in collaboration with both the community and stakeholders for the sustainable and adaptive management of the VMCA.
4. Re-empower local communities to effectively engage, lead and manage the VMCA of Anse La Raie.
5. Promote sustainable nature tourism through training and awareness of the Anse La Raie VMCA.

Findings to Date:

1. Awareness of the VMCA and Coral Ecosystems:
   Approximately 70% of interviewees were aware of the VMCA and its objectives, while 92% demonstrated familiarity with coral ecosystems. Respondents included individuals from Grand Gaube, Cap Malheureux, and Bain Boeuf.
2. Priorities for Strengthening VMCA Management:
   To enhance the effective management of the VMCA, participants identified stakeholder and community engagement as the top priority. This was followed by the need for a clear management plan and consistent monitoring and evaluation efforts.
3. Seasonal Variation in Coral Coverage:
   Coral cover varied by season, with the highest coverage observed within the VMCA. Specifically, 68.2% coral cover was recorded at the snorkelling trail, 50.6% in the extended region of the VMCA, and 23.5% at the control site located outside the VMCA.

Latest Project Update:

1. The two fixed mooring buoys within the VMCA have been successfully replaced.

2. Two community members from the VMCA committee, along with staff from Reef Conservation and the MIHARI network, participated in a regional exchange in Madagascar. They engaged with two Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) and five NGOs to learn about conservation practices. The exchange inspired the participants, and we are now exploring how to apply these insights to strengthen the VMCA. This was made possible with support from Varuna Biodiversity, implemented by Réserves Naturelles de France, in collaboration with the French Biodiversity Office and Expertise France for the French Development Agency (AFD).

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