Arbitration tribunal finds UK breached UN sea law over Chagos reserve
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
A 2015 arbitration tribunal found a breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the dispute over the Chagos marine protected area, which a US cable called the most effective way to block former residents' return. The sources reviewed do not describe the reserve's effect on marine life.
- Former residents of the Chagos Archipelago — return blocked, according to the cable
What happened
A Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal found in March 2015 that the UK had breached the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in a case brought by Mauritius.
A US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks described the reserve as the most effective way to prevent former residents from returning.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2015-03Claimant wonChagos Marine Protected Area arbitration: Mauritius v United KingdomPermanent Court of Arbitration · International court · Mauritius → United Kingdom
The tribunal found that the UK had breached the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, according to the sources reviewed. JHA
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record The sources reviewed do not describe the reserve's effect on marine life or fishing.
- None on record The cost and funding of the reserve are not stated in the sources reviewed.
- None on record The UK government's own account of the reserve is not in the sources reviewed.
- None on record The official description of the reserve as a major step for ocean protection has no named source.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not describe how residents were removed, beyond the cable's reference to blocking their return.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Company or project
Connected cases
- Bottom trawling in European marine protected areas European Union · 2017–2026 Related matter
- Chevron, Texaco and the Lago Agrio judgment: the RICO ruling and the Donziger cases Ecuador · 1995–2026
- Permanent Court of Arbitration (International organisation) — here: Tribunal that found the breach; there: Arbitration tribunal (Permanent Court of Arbitration)