banned plastic bags nation-wide. On average, a family of five in Mauritius was using 500 plastic bags each year. Worldwide use of plastic is expected to double in the next 20 years and by 2050, there could be more plastics than fish in the world’s oceans. This island-wide ban is a big step for our lagoons and towards new habits.
Furthermore, Vey nou Lagon will premiere in May of 2016 with a powerful message for the sustainable use of our marine resources. Georgie, who understands the importance of a healthy ocean, urges the fishing community to work with policy-makers to protect the lagoons. The film also highlights other fishers from around the island and Rodrigues, an autonomous island of Mauritius, as they work to create simple solutions for ocean depletion. Vey nou Lagon will be an effective tool to facilitate local conservation efforts by engaging the community at the individual level.
Finally, August 2016 will mark the start of the first official octopus fishing season closure. Octopus fishing will pause for two months nation-wide, from August to October. Octopus live fast and die young and stopping fishing efforts for only two months will allow baby octopus to grow and reproduce. For the closure to be successful, everyone has to work together. To emotionally engage the Mauritian public and ensure cooperation, the Indian Ocean Commission’s SmartFish Program will use Vey nou Lagon as part of their awareness campaign preceding the octopus fishing season closure.
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