File:St. Brandon recommended as Marine Protected Area (MPA) by World Bank (1998), accepted by Ministry in 'Blueprint' (2002), approved by the government of Mauritius (2004).pdf

English: St. Brandon was recommended as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) by the World Bank (1998. The World Bank’s Management Plan was accepted at Ministry level in its ”Blueprint for the Management of St. Brandon” (2002) which was thereafter approved by the government of Mauritius (2004). ‘At the request of the Mauritius Government in February 1997, the World Bank, together with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, financed and produced a Management Plan for Saint Brandon in 1998. The World Bank Management Plan recommended the creation of the ‘’Marine Protected Area of Saint Brandon’’ based on the Great Barrier Reef Model. ’The World Bank's Management Plan for St. Brandon (Marine Protected Area) is based ' on the successful Great Barrier Reef Model, and its main findings included ‘The selection of St. Brandon as a priority area for marine protection as designated in the four volume Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)/ World Bank report, A Global Representative System of Marine Protected Areas, is fully supported.

Considering the fact that practically every-where in the world reefs are over fished or destroyed by other causes, there will soon be few reference areas left for intact reef ecosysytems. Mauritius therefore has a splendid opportunity to set an example by protecting and sustainably using St. Brandon in this “International Year of the Reef”.’

Marine Parks (page 7): ‘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 overfishing 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.’