BIOT (Chagos) - Bio-Security
There is an increased emphasis on the environmental value of this British Indian Ocean Territory, which has the greatest marine biodiversity in the UK and its Overseas Territories, as well as some of the cleanest seas and healthiest reef systems in the world.
BIOT is home to the world’s biggest arthropod, the coconut crab and the outer islands and atolls are colonised by internationally important numbers of seabirds, with many thousands of pairs of sooty terns, brown boobies and red-footed boobies regularly breeding there. Endemic species of coral and reef fish inhabit the c. 4,000 km² of shallow coral reefs, which also support over six times the amount of fish that are found on any other Indian Ocean reef.
The BIOT Administration has identified 11 conservation and environmental priorities to ensure the protection of this unique environment for the future.
Visits to the islands are tightly controlled and certain restrictions put in place; some of the islands have been designated as Strict Nature Reserves and it is illegal to enter them. If you are granted permission to visit, you must moor your vessel at BIOT approved sites only, to help conserve BIOT’s fragile coral environment.
See BIOT/How to Apply for a Mooring Permit for information on Restrictions, Nature Reserves and Permitted Areas.
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COVID-19 Yachting Protocols History:
- BIOT re-opened to visiting yachts 1 February 2021.
- Normal permit rules apply.
- See Clearance for full details.
- Only three vessels are permitted to be in the Territory at any one time. Permits are issued on a first-come-first-served basis from the point at which your application has been approved and payment has been received.
- You will need to provide both a primary destination and a secondary destination, to be used in the event that COVID restrictions limit access to your preferred port of call.
- Whilst you are in BIOT you must obey the following protocols to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus:
– You must not board a vessel other than your own, either at anchor or at sea;
– You must not transfer equipment or supplies between vessels except in case of serious mechanical failure or medical necessity;
– You must maintain a distance of six feet (two metres) from members of other crews whilst in anchorages.
History:
- From mid-March 2020 new permits were no longer issued. Issued permits remained valid and these vessels were allowed to moor as planned.
- On 30 November, 2020, permit applications re-opened for vessels wanting to enter BIOT from 1 February, 2021.
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
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Related to following destinations: BIOT (Chagos)
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What is the vessel name responsible for the vandalism?
Reported by Kara Sewell, Assistant Administrator, British Indian Ocean Territory Administration:A member of the public applied for a mooring permit. I had assessed their application form and insurance documents and was satisfied with these. I had then provided a mooring permit to the individual. The individual was accompanied by his family. During their stay in British Indian Ocean Territory, they had carved the name of their yacht into one of the pine trees. This vandalism was later discovered by one of my colleagues who is located in the Territory. By the time my colleague discovered this, the individual and his family had departed the territory so we were unfortunately unable to prosecute them. I had confronted him about the vandalism via email but he refused to respond.
We wish to remind vessels that moor in BIOT, that vandalism is unacceptable and legal action will be taken for anyone found vandalising BIOT’s natural resources.[Editor’s Note: See https://www.noonsite.com/place/biot-chagos/formalities#restrictions-section
for what is and isn’t permitted in BIOT].
This infuriates me! It would be nice if the next country to see this boat was to deny them entry. Unbelievable!
Posted on behalf of SY Adina – currently in BIOT:
Really beautiful in BIOT/Chagos. They are now using spotter planes to check on us! The pilot called us up on VHF16 and I read all the boat names to him – clearly had a list and he quickly recalled them. Very polite and wished us well.
Posted on behalf of Katja Verheul:
At the moment I am doing research for a 20-min documentary about the Chagos Archipelago, which will be finished in July 2016 as part of my research as a Master at Goldsmiths University in London. A part of the documentary will be based on stories of sailors who visited the island, preferably in the ’80s and the ’90s.
I was hoping that through noonsite I could get in touch with some cruisers who have been here and ask them some questions about their stay and experience of the islands. Please e-mail me at va301kv(at)gold.ac.uk if you are able to assist.