Between May and October 2025, Coral Garden Conservation (CGC) implemented an integrated Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) monitoring and control micro-project within the St Félix Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA), Mauritius. The initiative combined ROV-based reef monitoring with targeted field interventions to rapidly suppress localised COTS pressure on priority reef patches. Six specialised COTS control kits were procured, and 21 participants (including local fishers and volunteers) received hands-on training in safe data collection and COTS control aligned with national protocols. Across 12 field surveys, 77 COTS were culled from high-risk zones, and follow-up monitoring recorded zero recurrence by December 2025. The project also delivered community engagement activities (two on-field sessions) and two school sessions, strengthening local stewardship and awareness. This integrated VMCA-based approach provides a practical, replicable model for rapid response and adaptive management of COTS threats in the Western Indian Ocean.
