L'Île Coco

16°50′0.0″S 59°30′0.0″E / 16.833333°S 59.500000°E / -16.833333; 59.500000

L'Île Coco (Coco Island) is one of the longest islands adjoining the inner lagoon of the St. Brandon archipelago. It is at times inhabited by fishermen as a base for the resident fishing company's fishing activities as well as for fly fishing and fly casting activities.

The island is inhabited by many thousands of sea birds and was one of the reasons the islands of St. Brandon were declared an Important Bird Area ('IBA').^[1]

The ecosystem of this island and the other twenty-nine isles of the Cargados Carajos shoals are an internationally recognised Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Key Biodiversity Area. ^[2] Coco Island receives the most turtle nesting visits in the archipelago which is the last important nesting area in Mauritius for the Critically Endangered Hawksbill Turtle and the Endangered Green Turtle, giving it national and international prominence.^[3]

In 1998, Section 2.5.3. of the Word Bank's Management Report to government stated, 'Two Marine Parks are proposed for the St. Brandon Area: Turtle Lagoon Marine Park and Cocos Island Marine Park (map at end of report). In these areas, no extractive activities will be allowed. Marine Parks are considered an effective means of preserving marine biodiversity, safeguarding against over fishing and replenishing fisheries in adjacent areas. The two Marine Parks are considered to be areas of vital importance for recruitment and feeding of Dame Berri and Capitaine (Lethrinus), the most important commercial species, and to provide a good representation of the slightly different faunal and habitat compositions of the Northern and Southern parts of St. Brandon. Paul and Cocos provide different but complementary examples of the terrestrial habitats of the archipelago. The total area represents roughly 25% of the reef, which is generally considered to be an adequate percentage to safeguard a reef for the purpose of biodiversity conservation and replenishment of fish stocks.'

References[edit]

^ "Saint Cargados Carajos Shoals declared An Important Bird Area". Birdlife International. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
^ "ECOSYSTEM PROFILE MADAGASCAR AND INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS" (PDF). CEPF. p. 63. The most important area on the Republic of Mauritius regarding marine diversity is the atoll of St. Brandon. It harbors the most pristine areas of coral reefs and the largest colonies of many sea bird species, hence its designation as an Important Bird Area. It has experienced relatively little human impact, although there is increased pressure for exploitation. This fragile ecosystem should be managed as one entity rather than a set of small islands, and was therefore identified as one KBA. Proper conservation actions, especially now, when development is being planned for this atoll, would ensure that the area will continue to be of high biological importance. Also, suitable long-term management would generate economic benefits for the fisheries.
^ "Saint Brandon's Rock". Research Gate. Retrieved 30 January 2024.

[1] "Saint Cargados Carajos Shoals declared An Important Bird Area". Birdlife International. Retrieved 20 December 2022.

[2] "ECOSYSTEM PROFILE MADAGASCAR AND INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS" (PDF). CEPF. p. 63. The most important area on the Republic of Mauritius regarding marine diversity is the atoll of St. Brandon. It harbors the most pristine areas of coral reefs and the largest colonies of many sea bird species, hence its designation as an Important Bird Area. It has experienced relatively little human impact, although there is increased pressure for exploitation. This fragile ecosystem should be managed as one entity rather than a set of small islands, and was therefore identified as one KBA. Proper conservation actions, especially now, when development is being planned for this atoll, would ensure that the area will continue to be of high biological importance. Also, suitable long-term management would generate economic benefits for the fisheries.

[3] "Saint Brandon's Rock". Research Gate. Retrieved 30 January 2024.

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