To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of a marine protected area covering the entire British Indian Ocean Territory Exclusive Economic Zone with Articles 56.2, 61.2 and 61.3 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. [HL2393]

The Government are fully aware of their obligations under UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea. Should the proposal to establish a marine protected area (MPA) in the British Indian Ocean Territory go ahead, it would be fully compatible with these obligations.

It has not, however, yet been decided whether an MPA should be established and what form it should take. A decision will be taken once the public consultation (10/11/09 to 5/3/10) is over, the report on all responses is written by the facilitator and the way ahead is decided on after consideration of the report.