(TAN): Ile aux Aigrettes will welcome back visitors and Blue Bay beach will reopen for recreational activities as from December 12, the Mauritius government has announced.
Visits to Iles aux Aigrettes and recreational activities at Blue Bay beach were banned following the running aground of the MV Wakashio last July.
Ile aux Aigrettes is a coral island of 27 hectares situated 850 km off the south eastern coast of Mauritius. Home to several unique species of flora and fauna, the island was declared a nature reserve 1965. It attracts a great number of visitors, particularly those on ecological trips.
Blue Bay, also situated in the region, is one of the most popular public beaches of the Island.
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Ile aux Aigrettes will be reopened for visits. Recreational activities, like swimming, diving, surfing and boating will be allowed as Blue Bay public beach reopens. The ban on in-lagoon fishing in the region will however be maintained. The government agreed to resume off-lagoon fishing activities in the regions affected by the MV Wakashio oil spill.
In September, Mauritus Tourism said the United Nations had observed “significant improvement in the state of the coastline (of Mauritius) affected by the fuel spilled from the MV Wakashio”.
