As many as 15 fishermen who ventured into the sea from the Thengapattinam fishing harbour in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, were reportedly detained near the Diego Garcia island  for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary.

About Diego Garcia Island

• Location: Diego Garcia is located in the Indian Ocean, forming part of the Chagos Archipelago, which is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
• • Positioned approximately 1,600 km south of India and 3,500 km east of Africa, it lies strategically between major international shipping routes.
• Geography: Diego Garcia is an atoll, characterized by a coral reef encircling a central lagoon. The island has a horseshoe shape, with the lagoon open to the sea on the northern side.

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• • The atoll spans approximately 27 square kilometers and is surrounded by pristine coral reefs and deep blue waters.
• Strategic Importance: Diego Garcia hosts a naval and military base, leased by the United Kingdom to the United States since 1971.
• • It serves as a key hub for military operations and surveillance in the Indian Ocean region.
• Ecological Significance: The atoll is home to diverse marine life, including endangered coral species and tropical fish.
• It is a Ramsar site.
  • The part of the atoll which is not included in the Ramsar site is the area which, under a 1976 UK/USA agreement, is set aside for military uses as a US naval support facility. 
  • Its isolated location helps preserve the unique biodiversity of the region.
• Chagossian Displacement: The island was once inhabited by the Chagossian people, descendants of African slaves and Indian laborers, who were forcibly relocated by the UK in the 1960s and 1970s.

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