International Marine Protected Area: Sargasso Sea

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Monday 6th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Lord is absolutely right and that must not be allowed to happen in this case. This agreement is important and it seeks to resolve something that I think many noble Lords care deeply about. The practical implementation now needs to happen at pace and there will be a conference happening early next year, as I said, to put the ideals in the agreement into action.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, we are supportive of the Government doing the right thing and protecting our most biodiverse areas, seas and oceans. On Report of the Diego Garcia military base Bill, the Minister admitted that Mauritius does not have the capabilities to protect the current marine protected area, one of the largest in the world. Can the Minister assure your Lordships’ House that the Government will never again seek to transfer the BIOT to a nation incapable of or unwilling to protect the current marine protected area?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

To say that Mauritius is unwilling is a bit harsh—it is very willing and it has committed to do this. We have committed to work alongside it to make sure that the waters around the archipelago are protected.