Native name: Cargados Carajos | |
|---|---|
 Saint Brandon highlighted with a red circle in Mauritius  | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 16°35′S 59°37′E / 16.583°S 59.617°E |
| Archipelago | Cargados Carajos |
| Total islands | 22 |
| Major islands | Albatross Island, Raphaël, Avocaré Island, L'Île Coco and L'île du Sud |
| Area | 1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Mauritius | |
| Largest settlement | Île Raphaël (pop. 30) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 40 (2022) |
| Pop. density | 48/km2 (124/sq mi) |
Saint Brandon (French: Saint-Brandon), also known as the Cargados Carajos Shoals, is a southwest Indian Ocean archipelago of sand banks, shoals and islets belonging to the Republic of Mauritius. It lies about 430 km (270 mi) northeast of the island of Mauritius. It consists of five island groups, with about 28-40 islands and islets in total, depending on seasonal storms and related sand movements.[1]
The archipelago is low-lying and is prone to substantial submersion in severe weather, but also by annual tropical cyclones in the Mascarene Islands. It has an aggregate land area estimated variously at 1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi) and 200 ha (500 acres).[1] The islands have a small resident population of around 60 fishermen working for the Raphael Fishing Company.[2] The bulk of this population, approximately 40 people, reside on Île Raphael, with smaller settlements existing on Avocaré Island, L'Île Coco, and L'île du Sud.
In the early 19th century, most of the islands were used as fishing stations. Today, only one resident fishing company operates on the archipelago with three fishing stations and accommodation for fly fishermen on L'île du Sud, Île Raphael and L'Île Coco. The isolated Albatross Island reverted to the State of Mauritius in May 1992 and has since been abandoned.[3] Thirteen of the thirty islands were subject to a legal challenge from 1995 until 2008 between a certain Mr. Talbot (acting with the government) and the Raphael Fishing Company, this being resolved by Mauritius's highest Court of Appeal in 2008[4] which converted the erstwhile permanent lease into a permanent grant for the resident fishing company.[5]
As is common amongst small, remote islands, the fauna and flora display a high degree of endemism which attracts visitors and international conservationists because of the critical role these remote islands play in the conservation of endangered species. The endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests here as does the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) which may be unique to the extent that they are eventually confirmed as being genetically different from those further north in the Chagos islands and the Seychelles.
The islands, designated a Key Biodiversity Area under CEPF, are also instrumental in the preservation of many bird species that are either vulnerable or near-threatened and were recommended as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) by the World Bank (1998). The World Bank's management plan was accepted, with a few changes, at Mauritian ministry level in its "Blue Print for the Management of St. Brandon" in 2002 and thereafter approved by the government of Mauritius in 2004.[6]
- ^ a b PRB: OIDC.
- ^ "Introduction". Central Statistics Office, Mauritius. 2001. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "The lease of 15 of these islets expired in May 1992 and have not been renewed since then. The 15 islets are now under the direct control of the Outer Islands Development Corporation (OIDC)". oidc.govmu.org. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v The State of Mauritius and Another (Mauritius)". vLex. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008)". www.saflii.org. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Ministry of Environment & Sustainable Development Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 (PDF). 2011. p. 223.
Blue Print for the Management of St. Brandon : A Blue Print on future economic development for St. Brandon was prepared in 2002 so as to manage and develop the islets with better land use, improvement in services, environmental protection, fisheries management, tourism development and diversification of the economy. The Blueprint has been approved by Government in 2004 and needs to be implemented. The salient issues in the Blue Print which are based on recommendations made in the World Bank Report 2001 are as follows: Declaration of St. Brandon as a Marine Protected Area. Division of the Archipelago into five distinct zones with specific recommendations for the sound management of each zone. No major economic activities to be carried out on the Archipelago except fishing within the sustainable limits of 680 tons of fish per year. No resort or hotel accommodation or supporting infrastructure such as harbours and runways to be set anywhere in St. Brandon. The Fisheries Division and the National Parks and Conservation Service to monitor at least once every year the populations of birds, turtles and fish. Restoration of the native fauna through eradication of introduced animals. Reinforcement of the Coast Guard Service on St. Brandon by the provision of patrol vessels and through training of officers.