Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park

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Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park was a French marine protected area at the entrance to the Mozambique Channel, around the Glorioso Islands in the Indian Ocean. It covered about 43,500 square kilometers and extended to the edge of France’s exclusive economic zone. The park was created in 2012 and began operating in early 2015. In 2021 it was replaced by the Glorioso Islands National Nature Reserve.

The park sits in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, near Mayotte, the Seychelles, Madagascar, and the Comoros. It is part of the Scattered Islands and lies in the northern Mozambique Channel, a region known for rich marine life. It forms a larger protected area when combined with the nearby Mayotte Marine Natural Park, together covering about 110,000 square kilometers.

Biodiversity in the Glorioso Islands area is high because of its isolation. Around 1,435 species were identified around Glorioso and about 600 near Banc du Geyser. There are more than 150 species of cnidarians and 349 species of coral reef fish. The park served as a refuge for many endangered species, including sea turtles, marine mammals, rays, sharks, and seabirds. Humpback whales breed in its waters, and Green sea turtles are common. Illegal fishing and other pressures have caused declines in some creatures like sea cucumbers, especially in less monitored areas.

The park had four main goals: protect natural heritage, promote sustainable fishing, support scientific observation, and encourage ecotourism. Its isolated and uninhabited nature makes it a valuable site for studying the Mozambique Channel’s biodiversity and monitoring climate change. Access and tourism were tightly controlled to protect the environment, and fishing was carefully regulated.

A 20-member management board ran the park, including representatives from the French state, qualified experts, environmental groups, professional organizations, and the president of Mayotte’s park board. The board was led by Bernard Cressens, with some joint management actions coordinated with Mayotte.