Thank you, Madam Speaker. Dolphin and whale watching are regulated by the Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) Regulations which was promulgated in 2012 to ensure that – (a) such activities take place in responsible, orderly and sustainable manner; (b) the safety of all persons involved in the activity is not jeopardised at any moment; (c) the sea animals are adequately protected, especially when persons enter the sea to swim with dolphins. And in a nutshell, Madam Speaker, the 2012 regulations make it mandatory for – (a) an operator to hold a licence from the Tourism Authority to undertake dolphin and whale watching or dolphin and whale watching together with swimming with dolphins;

52 (b) dolphin and whale watching is to be allowed only in prohibited zones which should be within a radius of 50 metres and 100 metres respectively from the pleasure craft undertaking that activity, and (c) dolphin and whale watching to take place only in a regulated zone with a radius of 50 to 150 metres from the closest dolphin and a radius of 100 metres to 200 metres from the closest whale. It is to be noted that currently dolphin and whale watching or dolphin and whale watching together with swimming with dolphins is being carried out by 278 pleasure crafts on the western coast of the island. Madam Speaker, contrary to what is provided in the 2012 regulations, the Tourism Authority has never issued any of these 278 pleasure crafts with a licence to carry out dolphin and whale watching or dolphin and whale watching together with swimming with dolphins. These pleasure crafts have been conducting these activities with a licence of excursion, the reason being that the 2012 regulations, though duly promulgated, could not be enforced following the representations received from the Federation of Pleasure Crafts Operators (FOPCO) on ground that – (a) no insurance cover could be taken for swimming with dolphins as same is not provided by the Association of Insurers, and (b) equipment such as propeller guard was not available on the local market. On the other hand, the cost of oxygen kit was too high. To note that propeller guards are installed on pleasure crafts to reduce injury to marine animals. The National Coast Guard, on its part, informed that enforcement of the regulations could not be made as their own vessels were fitted with a propeller guard and they did not have the appropriate equipment to ascertain distance in the prohibited and regulated zones. Madam Speaker, in view of these inabilities to enforce the regulations, several complaints have been received concerning the harassment of sea animals during the activity. Abuses have also been reported on the social medias about the disorganised and dangerous manner operators carry out this activity. It is understood that some operators even offer swimming with whales against high, expensive packages, which is illegal as per section 8(1)(b) of the regulations and other conducts, risky manoeuvres with clients at sea, resulting in harassment and safety concerns of those mammals.

53 In view of the above, Madam Speaker, when the Government took power, an interministerial committee under the chair of the Deputy Prime Minister, was set to look into and remedy these matters. I must say that the committee includes among others, representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping and the National Coast Guard. In the following discussions held, it was agreed that a fresh Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) and Swimming with Dolphins Regulations be worked out only to prohibit abuses in such activities which constitute a new pillar of our tourism industry. Madam Speaker, a first draft of the Regulations has been worked out by my Ministry and it provides among others, for a pleasure craft conducting this activity – it is mandatory to – (a) possess a licence from the Tourism Authority for that purpose; (b) be equipped with propeller guard; (c) have a lookout and certified lifesaver onboard, and (d) be manned by duly trained skippers. Madam Speaker, the draft regulations have been submitted to all concerned stakeholders for validation prior to being promulgated. On the other hand, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for instance, Eco-Sud, Marine Megafauna Conservation Organisation (MMCO) have informed that they have no objections to dolphin and whale watching activities and request that swimming with dolphins be banned. The FOPCO on the other hand, asked for dolphin and whale watching together with swimming with dolphins be maintained with reduced regulatory constraints, for example, the requirement of lifesaver and propeller guard be removed.

Madam Speaker, with a view to striking the right balance between the protection of the sea animals and our marine ecosystem, and the fact that the livelihood of the 278 operators and their personnel is concerned, I have called a meeting this Thursday with the concerned party to reach a modus operandi. Once same is agreed upon, the proposed regulation will be finalised.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Now, hon. Fourth Member for Port Louis North!

54 GRADE 7-9 TEXTBOOKS – ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 – PROCUREMENT EXERCISE