Mauritius : The Sea and its treasures

Protected from the tumult of the ocean, the lagoon of Mauritius is home to an impressive underwater fauna made up of fish, molluscs and crustaceans of all kinds. A veritable Garden of Eden for fishermen and diving enthusiasts. This blog takes you on a voyage of discovery of the sea and its treasures. Fishing has always played a vital role in the lives of many Mauritians. Living in Mauritius means taking advantage of the sea and its countless resources all year round. Let’s discover the traditional methods of fishing. There’s nothing more authentic than immersing yourself in the daily lives of fishermen, dexterously handling their nets, seines, traps and fishing rods.

Fishing is part of the Mauritian landscape. In the coastal regions of the island, you’ll find fishermen on foot, in pirogues in the lagoon or out in the open sea outside the reefs. Their day begins in the early hours of the morning, well before sunrise. Fishing tools and bait are taken on board the pirogues that criss-cross the lagoon.

The origins of the pirogue date back to the 18th century, at the start of French colonisation. It bears a striking resemblance to the Breton sardine boat. They are 6 to 8 metres long and just over a metre and a half wide. Pirogues are often propelled by a pole.

Artisanal fishing, art in action

Seining is a traditional method of fishing that is only permitted from March to September. It is done in teams. The seine is a large rectangular net fitted with floats and weighted with pieces of lead. A first net is thrown over the sandbanks to catch the bottom fish, and another, which the fishermen call ‘lasenn kanar’, made from pieces of bamboo, catches the fish on the surface of the water.

In the island’s coastal villages, from Cap Malheureux in the north to Trou d’Eau Douce in the east, the return of the fishermen is an event not to be missed. After several hours at sea, dozens of brightly-coloured pirogues unload their wriggling catches on the beach.

In their baskets, we find cobblers, cateau, fish horns, madras, red vielles and captains, with a guarantee of freshness! The beach is immediately transformed into a real market, a festival of sounds and colours. The ‘bayan ’* are on the lookout for bargains.

* A Kreol term for someone who buys fish directly from the fishermen to sell to the locals, often in the shade of trees by the roadside.

Seafood: a treat from the ocean

Surrounded by the ocean, Mauritius has unrivalled access to a selection of delicious fresh seafood that plays a central role in many local dishes: curries, briani, salade d’ourite and many more. In fact, an incredible culinary experience awaits you!

Crabs, lobsters, sea urchins, squid, octopus… so many marine treasures to tantalise your taste buds. At low tide, the beaches are transformed into a veritable seafood garden. You can pick up small crustaceans such as tec-tec, small crabs, kono-kono, Bernard l’Hermite periwinkles and others.

Some examples of fish to enjoy in Mauritius

Vieille rouge: Recognisable by its pale mottled red colour, the vieille rouge is a small fish much appreciated for its tasty white flesh.

Gueule pavée: Silvery in colour and streaked with horizontal golden lines, the gueule pavée is a small fish that lives in the shallow waters of the lagoon. It adapts easily to many recipes, whether curried or fried.

Sacré-chien: This is the most expensive fish on the Mauritian market. Its melting flesh is much sought after by connoisseurs. A sacré-chien can grow to 80 centimetres and weigh around ten kilos.

La Corne or (unicorn): This fish owes its name to the spiky growth around its eyes. Nicknamed ‘gadjack soular ’* by the locals because it is often served as an aperitif with a glass of rum.

Fishing: In search of unforgettable memories!

Inshore fishing with the locals isn’t the only way to enjoy an authentic experience. For thrill-seekers, there’s big-game fishing, a popular activity for those in search of large pelagics such as tuna, blue marlin, bonito, bream and sailfish.

In Mauritius as in Rodrigues, fishing for octopus, locally known as ‘ourite’, is a very popular activity. It is caught mainly at low tide on the coral flats that surround our two islands. In Rodrigues, the octopus is then salted and dried in the sun.

In Mauritius, the pirogue is part of our maritime heritage. Several cultural activities are based on it, such as the regatta. This is a pirogue race in which fishermen compete with other sea lovers. The pirogues are decked out in their finest finery. They look great with their colourful sails.