BIOT (Chagos) - Restrictions
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.
Diving, spear-fishing, removal of flora or fauna and commercial activity (including charter trips and fishing other than for subsistence purposes) are strictly prohibited and any offence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Conservation
BIOTA is committed to preserving the rich environmental heritage of British Indian Ocean Territory. Marine protected areas are recognised by scientists and the international community as essential to the conservation and sustainable management of oceans and fisheries. BIOT hosts the world’s largest contiguous ‘no-take’ marine reserve, along with several strict nature reserves.
The islands are a conservation area and all flora and fauna, such as turtles, coconut crabs, live coral and shells, are protected.
If you are granted permission, you must moor your vessel at the BIOT approved sites only, to help conserve BIOT’s fragile coral environment. If your vessel is not moored at one of the approved sites, you are liable to be issued with an on-the-spot fine of £500. Failure to pay the fine could result, on conviction, to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and/or a fine not exceeding £3,000.
WARNING: The government strongly advises against vandalism of BIOT’s natural resources. Legal action will be taken for anyone found vandalising.
[see BIOTA’s feedback on a 2021 vandalism incident by a cruising boat in BIOT comments].
Totally Restricted Areas
Any person entering the Strict Nature Reserves of Great Chagos Bank (The Three Brothers and Resurgent Island; Eagle Island; Danger Island; Cow Island; Nelson Island) and Peros Banhos Atoll (all the islands to the east of a line drawn between the easternmost point of land on Moresby Island and the easternmost point of land on Fouquet Island – in practice, this means that one may only anchor off the western islands which are quite unsafe during the SE trade wind season), is liable to an on-the-spot fine of £1000. Failure to pay the fine could result, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months and/or to a fine not exceeding £5000, and to detention and forfeiture of any boat and equipment used when committing the offence.
The Strict Nature Reserves also include the territorial seas around each of the named islands, and therefore transit within three nautical miles of the islands is prohibited, as is any water-based activity, e.g. fishing.
Fishing
There is no fishing in the entire BIOT Marine Protected Area. The only exception to this is to allow visiting yachts to fish for their own consumption (no more than three days’ worth, without freezing) and only with a hand line. A fishing log must be kept up to date whilst in BIOT waters, as a Fisheries Protection Officer may wish to see it.
Fire Pits
Fires may only be permitted (but not encouraged) in the designated areas and be of limited size. Currently, there are only two such areas on Ile de Boddam and Ile de Coin.
Drones
Drones are not permitted in the Territory.
Penalties
Penalties for infringement of the regulations are severe.
Any person who enters BIOT without permission is liable to imprisonment for 3 years and/or a fine of £10,000 and the vessel used to enter BIOT waters may be seized and forfeited.
For useful tips on cruising in BIOT waters and permit issues, see this 2015 report from SY YOLO.
Last updated: June 2024
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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.