Combining data from across the programme a team led by Dr Alice Trevail from Exter University compared tracking data on hawksbill turtles, reef manta rays and three seabird species: red-footed boobies, brown boobies and wedge-tailed shearwaters. “Our results provide clear evidence for the value of the Chagos Archipelago Very Large Marine Protected Area for protecting a diverse range of large and mobile marine species.” Chagos study highlights value of vast Marine Protected Areas – News

Swansea University student Charlotte Oulton, supervised by Dr. Nicole Esteban, made the first recorded observation of a new shark species in Chagos. Spotted on footage recorded by Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) deployed at depths of up to 29 meters on the Great Chagos Bank the Sliteye shark was captured clearly swimming past the bait station. The sighting received media attention Sliteye shark discovered in Chagos Archipelago a new first – Oceanographic and Découverte inédite : Le «sliteye shark» signalé dans les eaux de l’archipel des Chagos with articles stressing the value of large Marine Protected Areas in protecting species like these.