St. Brandon

St. Brandon, also known as the Cargados Carajos Shoals, is an archipelago of sand banks, shoals, and islets in the southwest Indian Ocean, administered by the Republic of Mauritius about 270 miles northeast of the main island. It was designated a Marine Protected Area after the World Bank management plan, the Blue Print for the Management of St. Brandon, was accepted at Mauritian ministry level in 2002 and approved by the government of Mauritius in 2004; it is also recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area. Covering about 1.3 square kilometers of land with a 190 square kilometer reef area, the islands protect endangered species including green sea turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles and support at least 26 seabird species, while a small resident population of around 40, mostly fishermen and support staff for the Raphael Fishing Company, sustains a longstanding fishing industry alongside the reserve conservation goals. Placed here as Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, the disclosed best fit for a reserve combining conservation with an ongoing licensed fishery.