Page 32 - DIVA_1_2007_No.28

ted water bottling, leaving behind mineral water of
the purest quality that is in high
air
aquaculture,
conditioning, cos- demand in Japan. Then, the high
metics, thalassothe- degree of purity, the nutrient
rapy and healthcare content and the adjustable tempe-
products. In line rature of the deep-sea water make
with the objective it ideal for high-value aquacultu-
of the government re, while on the other hand, pearl
to accelerate the of the highest quality can be cul-
implementation of tured in a controlled deep-sea
this project, the water environment.
Port-Louis: a hub and logistical platform to Mauritius Land-
Further more, the healing and the-
Oceanic
international markets. Based
Park Ltd, a private rapeutic attributes of deep-sea
USA, Sri Lanka and France and state-owned com- water have been known for centu-
received investments of over pany, responsible for extracting ries. Being a prime tourist desti-
MRU* one billion in 2006 as the five-century old pure deep nation, Mauritius is ideally loca-
compared to MRU525 million in sea ocean water and developing ted to exploit this unique quality
2005. The strategy of the seafood the park that will shelter this of our deep-sea water and deve-
hub is focused on the develop- industry, has been set up. lop thalassotherapy services. The
ment of value added fisheries and production of Pharmaceuticals
seafood related sectors. In line Recent scientific analysis of the and Cosmetics can also be envisa-
with this strategy, investment physical, chemical and biologi- ged. The presence of special che-
opportunities in the following cal characteristics of the deep mical elements in the deep-sea
areas are encouraged: fishing, (1,000m) water off the coast of water is indeed an important sour-
tuna transshipment, seafood pro- Mauritius, has established that ce of natural ingredients for the
cessing activities, aquaculture the water is very pure, rich in development of pharmaceutical
plus ancillary services (including mineral and of high nutrient products. Also, the characteristics
ship chandling, bunkering, vessel content as well as being cold (6° of the deep-sea water provide an
husbandry, ship agency, ship buil- Q. Carbon dating techniques ideal environment for the growth
ding and repair and net assembly show that the water is about 5 of particular species of seaweeds
and repair. Some key figures centuries old, which explains its which constitute important raw
depicting the sector are as illustra- purity and freedom from surface materials for biomedical and cos-
ted in table 1 below: pollution. These unique proper- metic products.
ties allow a multitude of business
f-ac : In our last issue we opportunities to bring about Finally, high-end products for
dealt with the new concept of (lie value from the water of the deep ornamental aquariums, such as
Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS). Indian Ocean. seahorses and sea snails, which
To-day, we would like you to tell are normally difficult to cultivate
us more about an another Many projects can be derived outside oceanic conditions, have
concept, known as " bringing from this concept of exploiting been shown to constitute thriving
out value front deep Indian the deep-sea currents in our businesses when carried out in a
Ocean Water "? region. First, we have in mind to deep-ocean water condition,
encourage the production of while it is also agreed that the
R.J : Mauritius is ideally positio- desalinated mineral water. By coldness of the deep-sea water is
ned to exploit the deep sea water far, this is the most lucrative ideally suited to replace the elec-
currents that circle the globe, business venture. Through rever- trical chillers in conventional air-
moving massive undercurrents of se osmosis, selected salts are conditioning systems. This could
2,500-year-old sea water of the removed from the deep water, lead to as much as 40% savings in
highest purity, free of pollutants,
rich in important minerals and
nutrients and with medicinal,
pharmaceutical and therapeutic
E properties.

A Unique Business Venture in a
0 Pristine Location

C The concept of exploiting the
deep-sea currents of the Indian
0 Ocean originated from the
Mauritius Research Council.
This concept is today viewed as a
w potential emerging sector of the The mauritian sea-food sector more buoyant than ever"
economy capable of generating
investment and jobs in desalina-
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