Chagos Archipelago Deal Watch: A senior UK Foreign Office official says the plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is “unlikely to change,” with Mauritius cabinet ministers briefed that the policy direction should hold even after a new UK prime minister is appointed. Marine Life & Illegal Fishing: A new study reconstructing catches in the Chagos Archipelago says Mauritian distant-water fishing was far higher than official records show, while foreign industrial fleets—plus illegal fishing by Taiwanese and Sri Lankan vessels—still pose biodiversity risks inside the marine protected area. Invasive Species Recovery in Mauritius: Mauritius’ decades-long removal of invasive rats, cats, goats and rabbits from offshore islands is credited with seabirds nesting again and native forests slowly returning. Ocean Governance: With the High Seas Treaty now in force, African countries are pushing marine protected areas in international waters, but enforcement and coordination remain key questions. Local Conservation Leadership: Mauritius’ “new luxury hire” conservation manager highlights growing roles for conservation professionals in protecting the island’s natural heritage.