{{Short description|Outer island of Mauritius}} {{Coord|16|27|0|S|59|37|0|E|display=title}} [[File:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 15.jpg|thumb|201px|Île Raphael Chapel in St. Brandon]]
'''Île Raphael ''' is an island in the Saint Brandon archipelago, a group of 30 outer islands of Mauritius.<ref>{{cite web |title=Île Raphael |url=http://www.ile-archipel.com/maurice-ile-raphael/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=ile archipel}}</ref> The island is named after Veuve Raphaël.<ref>{{cite web |title=Point 5 ''In 1820 the then Governor General of Mauritius granted jouissances in respect of the five groups as follows. He granted to Ozile Majestre alone a joussance exclusive over one group, the Iles Boisées, and to two individuals, Ozile Majestre and Dominique Bétuel, jouissances en partage over another group of six islands (Petits Foux, Lavocaire and four others). He granted three further jouissances exclusives to respectively M. Burceret (La Baleine and l'île aux Cocos), Mme. Veuve Raphaël (l'île Raphaël) and Mr William Stone (Ile Veronge and Ile aux Bois). All these jouissances were unlimited in time.'' |url=https://vlex.co.uk/vid/the-raphael-fishing-company-805328577 |access-date=17 December 2022 |website=vlex}}</ref> Veuve Raphaël's husband was a sea captain<ref>{{cite book |author1=Jean-Marie Chelin |title=Histoire Maritime de L'ile Maurice |isbn=9789994902316 |page=142 |chapter=30 August 1817 |date=2010 |publisher=Jean Marie Chelin |quote=(...) et Le Lougre, Le Cheriby, Capitaine Raphael pour St Brandon}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Jean-Marie Chelin |title=Histoire Maritime de l'Ile Maurice 1816 -1817 |date=21 October 1817 |publisher=Imatech |location=port louis |page=163 |language=French |chapter=25 October 1817 |quote=Le Lougre le Cheriby, Capitaine Raphael, parti de St Brandon avec une cargaison de poisson sale}}</ref> and had installations on the corner of rue (route) des Pamplemousses and rue Fanfaron in Port Louis. Captain Raphaël travelled regularly to '''Île Raphael''', St Brandon from Port Louis and, on 17 May 1816<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chelin |first=Jean Marie |title=Histoire Maritime de L'Ile Maurice 1816 & 1817 Marine et Commerce |publisher=Jean Marie Chelin |year=2016 |isbn=9789994902316 |location=Tamarin |publication-date=17 May 1817 |page=107 |language=Fr}}</ref> and November 1817,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chelin |first=Jean-Marie |title=Histoire Maritime de l'Ile Maurice 1816 et 1917 |publisher=Jean-Marie Chelin |year=2016 |isbn=9789994902316 |location=Mauritius |pages=169 |language=French}}</ref> is on record as bringing back salted fish (Poisson Salé<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chelin |first=Jean Marie |title=Histoire Maritime de L'isle Maurice (1816 & 1817) Marine et Commerce |publisher=Jean Marie Chelin |year=2016 |isbn=9789994902316 |location=Tamarin, Mauritius |page=174 |language=French |chapter=1817 |quote=''Poisson salé de St. Brandon à 6 piastres la livre le cent. S'adresser chez Mr. Raphael, rue des Pamplemousses au coin de celle du Fanfaron''}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Rougaille poisson salé |url=https://www.ebox.mu/daily/recipe/rougaille-poisson-sale.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=eBox |language=en}}</ref>) on a Lugger called 'Le Cheriby' ('angel' in old French). Île Raphaël is today the headquarters and principal fishing base of the Raphael Fishing Company which is the second oldest commercial company in Mauritius.
==Population== [[File:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 03.jpg|thumb|201px|Île Raphael Cemetery in St. Brandon]] Today, Île Raphael's population amounts to around 40 people and constitutes the majority of Saint Brandon's entire resident population. Some employees of Raphael Fishing Company stay and work on the island for periods of up to seven months, depending on the season.
==Key biodiversity area== In 1968, the island was visited by the Mauritian scientist France Staub and his seminal work called ''Birds of the Mascarenes and Saint Brandon'' was partially based on his experiences here. In the Chapter (7) called '' Seabirds of Saint Brandon'', Staub lists breeding seabirds and determines that Saint Brandon then had amongst 'the largest colonies in the world of Sooty Tern'.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Mascarenes-Saint-Brandon-France/dp/B002GDD7B8|title=Seabirds of Saint Brandon|year=1976 |page=103|language=English |quote=''Breeding Sea Birds of the Mascarenes and Saint Brandon''}}</ref> This island is located on the Cargados Carajos coral reef atoll system, part of a CEPF designated Key Biodiversity Area (KBA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/resources/Donor%20Council/MIOI_EcosystemProfile_DonorCouncil.pdf/|title=[St Brandon. It is the most important KBA of the Republic of Mauritius in terms of marine biodiversity.pp 194 |website=www.saflii.org|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> in the Southwest Indian Ocean. The Cargados Carajos are closely skirted by busy Southeast Asian shipping lanes (North and South of the Archipelago) making its unique ecosystem vulnerable to a variety of risks which pose threats to its long-term existence as a Key Biodiversity Area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339135077 |title=Impact of a shallow shipwreck on a coral reef: A case study from St Brandon's Atoll Mauritius|website=researchgate.net|access-date=24 November 2022}}</ref>
Ongoing and future threats include: * (i) rust & heavy metal seepage from existing shipwrecks<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shipwrecklog.com/log/tag/cargados-carajos-shoals/|title=Alam Manis Runs aground in St Brandon. |date=8 February 2017 |publisher= Shipwreck Log| accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2015/6507/fv-kha-yang-aground-salvage-under-way/|title=f/v Kha Yang aground, salvage under way|website=FleetMon.com|access-date= 12 Dec 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://shipwrecklog.com/log/2014/11/team-vestas-wind/|title= TEAM VESTAS WIND|date= December 2014|publisher=Team Vestas|access-date= 12 December 2022}}</ref> into coral reefs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/depuis-le-5-decembre-naufrage-du-yu-feng-n67-a-lile-du-sud-a-saint-brandon/528585 |title=Naufrage du Yu Feng N°67 à l'île du Sud à Saint-Brandon|website=www.lemauricien.com|access-date=15 December 2017}}</ref> * (ii) seepage of rust and heavy metals from future shipwrecks<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141113619304866|title= Impacts of a shallow shipwreck on a coral reef: A case study from St. Brandon's Atoll, Mauritius, Indian Ocean|journal= Marine Environmental Research|date= April 2020|volume= 156|doi= 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104916|access-date= 12 December 2022|last1= Van Der Schyff|first1= Veronica|last2= Du Preez|first2= Marinus|last3= Blom|first3= Karin|last4= Kylin|first4= Henrik|author5= Kwet Yive NSC|last6= Merven|first6= Julian|last7= Raffin|first7= Jovani|last8= Bouwman|first8= Hindrik|pmid= 32174336}}</ref> * (iii) spillage of petroleum/heavy oil as a direct consequence of new shipwrecks<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/depuis-le-5-decembre-naufrage-du-yu-feng-n67-a-lile-du-sud-a-saint-brandon/528585 |title=Naufrage du Yu Feng N°67 à l'île du Sud à Saint-Brandon|website=www.lemauricien.com|access-date=15 December 2017}}</ref> * (iv) cyclones and high winds up to {{cvt|180|km/h}} with associated flooding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ndrrmc.govmu.org/pages/stbrandon.aspx|title= The archipelago is often affected by tropical cyclones with high waves and tsunami additional hazards due to the islands' being low-lying.|publisher=Government of Mauritius|access-date= 13 December 2022}}</ref> * (v) tsunami, potentially from any future earthquake in southern Sumatra to the East and, speculatively, from the Reunion Hotspot inter alia. * (vi) outbreaks of disease and importation of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) into its globally unique flora and fauna.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/MUS/PIMS%205503%20GEF_6%20PIF%20MAU%208Sept16%20Final%20Resubmission.docx|title= St. Brandon Island is the nesting ground for two species of endangered marine turtles|publisher=UNDP|access-date= 13 December 2022}}</ref>
==Image gallery== <gallery mode=packed> Image:Protecting the Fauna of St Brandon.jpg|{{center|Protecting St Brandon Islands}} Image:Raphael Fishing - Protecting the Fauna of St Brandon Atoll.jpg|{{center|Protecting Fauna of St Brandon Atoll}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 01.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 02.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 03.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Cemetery of Île Raphael}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 04.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 05.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 06.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 07.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 08.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 09.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 10.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 11.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 12.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 13.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 14.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 17.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 18.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius69.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 20.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 21.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 22.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} Image:The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius 23.jpg|{{center|The Thirteen Islands of St Brandon - Images of Île Raphael, Cargados Carajos in Mauritius}} </gallery>
== See also ==
*Mascarene Islands * St Brandon * France Staub * Avocaré Island * L'île du Sud * L'île du Gouvernement * Permanent grant * L'Île Coco * Raphael Fishing Company * Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
==References== {{Reflist}}{{Mauritius Territories}} {{Mauritius topics}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ile Raphael}} Category:Islands of St. Brandon Category:Outer Islands of Mauritius Category:Reefs of the Indian Ocean Category:Fishing areas of the Indian Ocean Category:Insular ecology Category:Important Bird Areas of Mauritius Category:Atolls of the Indian Ocean Category:Biodiversity Category:Quarantine facilities Category:Fly fishing Category:Fishing tournaments Category:Environment of Mauritius Category:Natural history of Mauritius