Chagossian people would be allowed to fish in area that has teemed with life since ban was introduced in 2010
One of the most precious marine reserves in the world, home to sharks, turtles and rare tropical fish, will be opened to some fishing for the first time in 16 years under the UK government’s deal to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Allowing non-commercial fishing in the marine protected area (MPA) is seen as an essential part of the Chagossian people’s return to the islands, as the community previously relied on fishing as their main livelihood. But some conservationists have raised the alarm, as nature has thrived in the waters of the Indian Ocean since it was protected from fishing.
The Chagos Islands MPA was designated in 2010 and became one of the largest “no-take” zones in the world, meaning no fishing is allowed at all. At the time, the plans, backed by environment NGOs such as Greenpeace and the RSPB, were controversial, with local people accusing the UK and US governments – who set up a military base on Diego Garcia, one of the islands – of putting the fishing ban in place to make it difficult for the Chagossian people to return.
The MPA, covering 247,000 sq miles (640,000 sq km) , has some of the cleanest water, healthiest coral reefs and most biodiverse marine life in the world and is a crucial sanctuary for more than 76 species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list. As well as sea turtles, there are 800 species of fish in the archipelago, including rays, skates and more than 50 different types of shark. About 175,000 pairs of seabirds visit the islands to breed.
