Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park

The Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park (French: Parc naturel marin des Glorieuses) is a marine park at the entrance of the Mozambique Channel, around the Glorioso Islands, in the Indian Ocean. It extends for more than 43,000 km2 until the edge of the French overseas territory's exclusive economic zone. Established in 2012, it is the fourth marine natural park created by France and the second in the Indian Ocean after Mayotte Marine Natural Park, which it abuts.

Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park
French: Parc naturel marin des Glorieuses
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Glorioso Islands from the International Space Station
Borders of the Glorioso Islands territory, part of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean
LocationFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands
Area43,502.24 km2 (16,796.31 sq mi)
Established2012 (2012)

Geography

Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park lies between Mayotte, the Seychelles, Madagascar, and the Comoros,[1] with the territory being part of the Scattered Islands.[2]: 44 

The northern Mozambique channel, which the park lies within, is considered a hotspot for marine diversity.[2]: 47  The park is over 43,000 km2,[3] covering the entirety of the Glorioso Islands EEZ.[2]: 13  It is contiguous with Mayotte Marine Natural Park,[1][4] together forming a park stretching 110,000 square kilometres (42,000 sq mi).[5]

History

The territory of the Glorioso Islands has seen a number of problems due to illegal activities such as fishing and tourism. To keep an eye on these activities, while protecting the entire exclusive economic zone, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and the French Marine Protected Areas Agency decided to develop a framework for managing the area.[6]

Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park was established through TAAF ordinance number 2012–245 on February 22, 2012,[2]: 51  and the park entered operation in early 2015.[7] It is the fourth marine natural park established by France, and the second in the Indian Ocean following that of Mayotte.[6]

Marine biodiversity

The park is home to a reef that is 17 km long and 165 km2 in area. Due to its isolation, the archipelago is relatively well preserved and contains a wealth of marine biodiversity, so it is a useful reference for scientific research and observation of the marine environment, as well as for monitoring climate change.[5]

While the uninhabited nature of the islands can make it difficult to establish scientific missions there,[5] 1435 species have been identified around the Glorioso Islands, and 600 have been identified around the Banc du Geyser.[6] These include more than 150 species of cnidarians and 349 species of coral reef fish.[5]

The park also serves as a refuge area for a large number of endangered species including various sea turtles, marine mammals, rays, sharks, and sea birds. Around 11% of the species present within the park are listed in the appendices of international conventions on environmental conservation or appear on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.[5][6] Humpback whales breed within its waters, and the wider region has seen 23 whale species.[8] The waters are an important location for Green sea turtles.[6]

Illegal fishing is suspected to have caused a decline in sea cucumber populations in the less patrolled areas of the park.[9] Wildlife around the Banc du Geyser may also have been damaged by typhoons.[10]

Objectives

The park has four major officially mandated objectives: protection of natural heritage, sustainable fishing, scientific observation, and ecotourism.[5]

Natural heritage

Due to the isolated and uninhabited nature of the park, it has exceptional natural heritage. The preservation of this heritage is thus one of the most important challenges for the park. In particular, the park aims to protect and study turtles (there are a large number of juvenile turtle habitats in the park), coral reefs (including through research on coral bleaching), seagrass (five species of spermatophytes have been confirmed there), and marine mammals, using non-invasive research techniques.[6]

Sustainable fishing

Fishing is the main activity conducted within the park, but authorities aim to promote sustainable fishing, particularly when it comes to fishing on reef banks such as the Geyser and Cordelière reefs. Because the park is within the exclusive economic zone, fishing is technically prohibited within those waters, so the park works to monitor such activities.[6] Fishing is prohibited within the 12 nm territorial waters of the Glorioso islands, and within 10 nm of Banc du Geyser.[2]: 52 

Scientific observation

The territory of the Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park is considered a privileged scientific observatory due to its isolation. Thus, one of the park's aims is to improve scientific knowledge of the Mozambique Channel's marine biodiversity through scientific research, including water quality studies.[6]

Ecotourism

Access to the park and tourist activity are strictly regulated, so this aspect of the park's mandate aims to develop ecotourism and ensure that any tourism is sustainable and respectful of the marine environment.[6]

Governance
The Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park covers the waters surrounding Banc du Geyser (middle) and the Glorioso Islands (top right). Mayotte (left) has its own marine natural park.

The park is governed by a management board consisting of 20 appointed members: five representatives of the French state, seven qualified experts, three representatives of environmental protection organizations, four representatives of professional organizations, and the president of the board of Mayotte Marine Natural Park.[6] The board is currently led by Bernard Cressens.[11] The administration has agreed with Mayotte to some joint management actions.[2]: 53 

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marine natural park of Glorioso Islands.

References
  1. Levin, Noam; Beger, Maria; Maina, Joseph; McClanahan, Tim; Kark, Salit (1 February 2018). "Evaluating the potential for transboundary management of marine biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean". Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. 25 (1): 65. doi:10.1080/14486563.2017.1417167. S2CID 56449567.
  2. "Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles". European Commission. January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. "Nouveau parc naturel marin des Glorieuses – au cœur de l'océan indien" (in French). Eaufrance. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. OECD Review of Fisheries: Policies and Summary Statistics 2013. OECD Publishing. 2013. p. 184. ISBN 9789264203440.
  5. "Parc naturel marin des Glorieuses : un espace protégé au cœur de l'océan Indien" (in French). Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  6. "Le Parc Naturel Marine des Glorieuses" (PDF) (in French). Terres Australes et Antarctiques Français. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. "Décret n° 2012-245 du 22 février 2012 portant création du parc naturel marin des Glorieuses – Légifrance". Légifrance (in French). 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  8. Klaus, R (2014). "Coral Reef Atlas and Outlook: South Western Indian Ocean Islands" (PDF). Indian Ocean Commission. p. 66. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. Mulochau, Thierry (March 2018). "Commercially important sea cucumbers on Geyser Bank (Scattered Islands – Gloriosos – Indian Ocean)" (PDF). SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulleti. 38: 15.
  10. Cremades, Caroline (April 2013). Proposition pour une stratégie biodiversité en vue d'un développement durablede Mayotte (PDF). IUCN. p. 26. ISBN 978-2-918105-28-2.
  11. "BERNARD CRESSENS – Président du Comité français de l'UICN". Climax Festival (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2021.

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