The Odysseo, the largest oceanarium in the Mascarene Archipelago, was officially inaugurated, this evening, by the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at Les Salines in Port Louis. It will be open to the public as from 06 September 2021.
The project to the tune of some Rs 585 million has been developed by the Eclosia Group and Cleer Reef International. Spanning over 5 500 m2, the Odysseo contains 45 tanks that hold a total of 2 million litres of water, and are home to 3 500 aquatic animals.
In his address, Prime Minister Jugnauth stated that the Odysseo, a first of its kind in Mauritius, is in line with Government’s vision to preserve the fauna and flora of the Indian Ocean and protect maritime diversity. It also highlights the commitment of the public and private sector to mobilise efforts for the protection of the marine ecosystem, he added.
The Odysseo, he said, will significantly contribute to promoting the tourism sector in Mauritius and will become a centre of great attraction for tourists as it responds to the strong demand for educational, cultural and ecological recreation.
He added that the oceanarium will help in conservation projects such as coral regeneration, mangrove conservation, reduction of plastic pollution and turtle care. The oceanarium, he indicated, in line with the promotion of blue economy, will evolve as a maritime research hub for port development and will generate employment in that sector.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the oceanarium is located near the cruise terminal which will allow more cruise ships to access Port Louis as from next year. The terminal, built to the tune of Rs 770 million, will welcome some 45,000 cruise passengers by 2022 and 2023, he added.
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Eclosia Group, Mr. Cedric de Spéville, pointed out that the Odysseo is a unique project in Mauritius which aims to highlight the richness of the fauna and flora of the Indian Ocean and to sensitise visitors on the importance and fragility of the aquatic world. The oceanarium, he said, will allow marine biodiversity enthusiasts to discover the different facets of marine life and understand the functioning of the ecosystem.
Greatest Achievement of the Government of Mauritius for present for Tourists and Mauritian to appreciate this Odysseo Oceaarium of the Indian Ocean. Well done