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.
Most of the currently protected zone will be open to some fishing, a Foreign Office spokesperson said. Plans discussed in the Mauritian media outline the allowance of what the government describes as “sustainable” fishing in almost 99% of the area, with the space around the Diego Garcia base prohibited from being visited by fishing boats.
Richard Ally, from the campaign group Chagossian Voices, said it was important for an agreement to preserve the culture of the Chagossians by allowing them to fish.
He said: “As Chagossians, the sea was a part of the Chagossian culture. The Mauritian government will allow small-scale regulated activities and artisanal fishing that will be legal. To allow Chagossians back to the Chagos and not allowing them to fish isn’t a proper resettlement.
“This does not mean we are not concerned about the environment or the protection of the marine area around Chagos,” he added. “The Chagossians have always been the guardians of the environment. Before they were forcibly removed from the island, they were the guardians of the island. They have always kept the environment safe, they did not do overfishing.”
Ally did, however, express concerns about the ability of the Mauritian government to regulate the MPA after the UK hands over the territory: “It’s going to be very hard to control and regulate fishing activities for the Mauritian government. They do not have the capacity to do it on their own.”
Prof Heather Koldewey, the head of ocean conservation at the Zoological Society of London, who is working on the new plans, said: “While dedicated financing for the MPA must still be announced, the Mauritius government have repeatedly spoken on their high conservation ambition for the new MPA and commitment to not allowing any commercial fishing in the waters, and we will continue to work with relevant authorities to find practical and inclusive ways to ensure wildlife can thrive alongside the needs of people who depend on the ocean.”
But the proposal to allow some fishing in the MPA has alarmed some conservationists, who think the wildlife park should remain completely protected.
Dr Enric Sala, the founder of the National Geographic Society’s Pristine Seas project, said the zone should remain no-take.
He said: “Chagos’s waters are living time machines that show us what the ocean looked like before humanity began to empty it. It’s critical to understand that Chagos is a ‘fish bank.’ As a no-take zone, it acts as a massive production engine where migratory species like tuna can grow, breed and eventually ‘spill over’ its borders.”
The Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the Foreign Office select committee, said: “A potential catastrophe is about to happen to the wildlife on these rare and precious islands.
“The environmental agreement is done on the basis of goodwill. The most important thing is that even if commercial fishing is banned, how is that ban going to be enforced?” She added: “We should have a legally binding agreement which enshrines it as a no-take zone.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We have always been clear that the Chagos marine protected area is one of the most important and unique marine environments in the world.
“Both the UK and Mauritius are committed to its protection, including continuing the fight against illegal fishing.”
The Mauritian government has been contacted for comment.
