Recovered Sovereignty - Conservation and Resettlement: Mauritius Unveils Its Plan for the Chagos Islands

On November 3, 2025, the government announced the establishment of the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area (CAMPA), which spans approximately 645,835 km². This initiative, detailed in a statement from the Prime Minister's office, divides the area into four distinct sectors based on categories established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The zoning aims to balance ecological priorities with the sustainable resettlement of the Chagossian community while strictly prohibiting commercial fishing throughout the area.

The first zone, termed "Strict Conservation" (IUCN Category Ib), covers 23,712 km², accounting for 3.67% of CAMPA. It is primarily designated for the conservation of sensitive or exceptional ecosystems, resources, or natural features. Its main goal is to protect the biodiversity of the Great Chagos Bank. Members of the Chagossian community will be allowed to conduct "supervised visits to preserve their traditional, spiritual, and cultural values."

The largest area, the "Conservation Zone" (Category II), extends over 612,611 km², representing 94.86% of the total area. It focuses on general conservation, particularly of submarine mountains and associated ecosystems in the deeper parts of the Chagos Archipelago, as well as essential habitats such as coral reefs, feeding areas, and other living resources, including bird populations. Activities that are "spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitation compatible with the environment and culture" will be permitted, along with fishing under a "sustainable quota agreed for artisanal, traditional, ceremonial, and subsistence purposes."

The "Habitat Protection Zone" (Category IV), smaller at 2,251 km² (0.35%), targets bank areas. It allows "a limited level of artisanal fishing compatible with nature conservation to support the local community," under strict control. Recreation and small-scale tourism will also be permitted here.

Finally, the "Traditional Resettlement Zone" (Category V), covering 7,261 km² (1.12%), marks a significant opening. It will "support the sustainable resettlement of Chagossian community members while ensuring the conservation and protection of important marine landscapes and ecosystems, including key marine species." A low level of artisanal fishing compatible with conservation and aimed at supporting the Chagossian community will be tolerated.

This zoning with varying levels of protection "addresses ecological priorities while allowing for sustainable resettlement in the Chagos Archipelago," the statement emphasizes. No commercial fishing will be allowed throughout CAMPA, reinforcing the protective nature of the initiative. Announced by the Prime Minister's office, this decision comes against a sensitive geopolitical backdrop surrounding the Chagos Islands, which were recently returned to Mauritian sovereignty through a restitution agreement with the United Kingdom.

In related news, the British House of Lords is examining the Diego Garcia Military and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill in its second reading. This legislation aims to ratify the sovereignty agreement over the Chagos Archipelago in favor of the Republic of Mauritius while maintaining the American military base at Diego Garcia, having already received approval from the House of Commons in October.

The bill was introduced to implement the bilateral treaty signed last May and has now moved a significant step closer to final adoption. The anticipated debates will focus on security guarantees and the implications for environmental management in the Indian Ocean, echoing Mauritius's announcement of a vast marine protected area in the region.

Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger announced that a planned trip to the Chagos Islands has been postponed until early next year due to certain challenges. "We were supposed to go to the Chagos before the end of the year, but we are facing some difficulties," he stated at a commemoration ceremony for the deportations of Chagossians on November 3 at the Chagos Monument in Quay C, Port Louis.

Negotiations are ongoing with key partners, including India, which has offered assistance to facilitate the trip. The Deputy Prime Minister added that an aircraft and a boat will be made available for the delegation, which will include government members and representatives of the Chagossian community. "We cannot take the boat to get there, so we will take the plane. The Chagossians will take the boat, and we will meet there," he remarked.

This trip will not merely be a flag-raising ceremony on the islands where the Chagossians lived; it will also represent a significant milestone in the resettlement process to their ancestral land. Paul Bérenger stressed the government's commitment to realizing this objective and doing everything possible to achieve it.

Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the creation of a second "Trust Fund" aimed at supporting Chagossians. "Forty million pounds will be available for the Chagossians. They will manage these funds themselves and make decisions regarding them," he specified. The government is currently working on drafting a law to establish a committee to manage this fund, financed by grants provided in the agreement with the British authorities.