Return of the Chagos to Mauritius: Marine Biodiversity in Danger, According to a Policy Exchange Study

A British report raises concerns about the environmental risks associated with the transfer of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. According to this study conducted by Policy Exchange, a think tank specializing in public policy, hundreds of rare species of fish, birds, and corals could be at risk. The document warns of a catastrophic impact on an already fragile marine biodiversity if the agreement reached by the British Labour Party regarding the transfer of the Chagos is implemented.

This publication comes as the House of Lords is set to review the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill on Monday, a critical step in the process. It represents the final pressure exerted by Conservatives, who are vehemently opposed to this agreement.

This warning was released just before a crucial debate in the House of Lords concerning the agreement on the Chagos with Mauritius. Experts suggest that this agreement could ultimately cost British taxpayers up to £35 billion, a figure that raises significant concerns in the UK as the bill enters a decisive phase in Parliament.

The Chagos archipelago is a natural environment of great richness, home to nearly 300 species of corals, 280 varieties of plants, two endangered species of turtles, and around 800 species of fish.

In its report, the think tank Policy Exchange also highlights illegal fishing, which it describes as a "clear and immediate danger" to marine life. According to the study's authors, this phenomenon could worsen further.