Fishing

Beyond the sand, 90 miles of fringing reef border Mauritius. The reef is the worse for wear - fish dynamiting and sedimentation have taken their toll but it is famous still for its mollusks and healthy enough to support dive tours and fisheries.

Since the first settler came to Mauritius, fishing has been confined to the lagoon and offshore areas. Most fishermen do not have the equipment or the inclination for fishing far beyond the reefs. They use traditional methods, with wooden boats of six to seven meters in length. Modern fishing boats are well equipped and designed for sport fishing. The crew fish with handlines, basket traps, gill nets and harpoons. These artisanal fishing grounds is the only source of fresh fish supply that spread over an area of 1,020km square for Mauritius and 1380km square for Rodrigues.