Good news for marine mammals! To limit the risk of collisions between maritime traffic and large cetaceans around Reunion Island, a « zone to avoid » has been delimited around Reunion Island to strengthen maritime safety and the marine environment, Globice announced on Thursday, June 4.
his measure primarily targets cargo ships over 300 gross tons in transit, without a planned stop in Réunion. The aim is to reduce the risks of grounding, marine pollution, and collisions with cetaceans present in Réunion’s waters, as maritime traffic and ship size in the Mascarene Islands are increasing.
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Maritime traffic: a « no-go zone » created off the coast of Réunion to protect cetaceans · ©Globice Réunion
A desire to preserve the environment
« The proposed zone keeps ships away from the coasts most exposed to winds, currents, and swells, particularly to the south and east of the island. It also helps limit interactions with fishing activities and marine mammal habitats , » explains Globice. The project is part of a regional initiative coordinated with Mauritius and supported by the Indian Ocean Commission.
See you in six months
The project, submitted to the International Maritime Organization in March 2024, reached a crucial milestone last year by receiving a favorable opinion from the NCSR (Sub-committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue). It was definitively approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met from May 13 to 22 and endorsed the implementation of the ATBA (Area To Be Avoided).
The measure will come into effect within six months and will be published in the nautical instructions. Thomas Rostaing, former director of CROSS Réunion and maritime safety expert at the Indian Ocean Commission, spearheaded this project.
source : france info
