Credit: Claire Collins
Thousands of sharks have been illegally caught in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Indian Ocean, new research shows.
The MPA was created in 2010 around the Chagos Archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), banning all fishing there.
The new study examined information on illegal fishing in the MPA - a vast (640,000 km²/250,000 mi2) area containing pristine and remote reefs.
Enforcement data suggests more than 14,000 sharks were caught in the MPA from 2010-20, but discussions with fishers in the region suggest the true number was "considerably higher".
The study was carried out by the University of Exeter and ZSL (Zoological Society of London), Oceanswell and MRAG Ltd.