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=== Acquisition by France and resource exploitation (1896–1975) === [[File:TAAF JuanDeNova89.jpg|alt=A coconut grove on Juan de Nova Island.|thumb|A coconut grove on Juan de Nova Island.]] The island had never been inhabited when it became a possession of France, alongside [[Europa Island]] and Bassas da India, in 1897.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taaf.fr/spip/spip.php?article312 |title=TAAF |access-date=2011-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129220306/http://www.taaf.fr/spip/spip.php?article312 |archive-date=29 January 2012 }}</ref> At the time, the only visitors to the island were [[Malagasy people|Malagasy]] fishermen during sea turtles' nesting season. However, around 1900, the island was granted to a Frenchman for a 20-year lease. He initiated the exploitation of the island's [[guano]] deposits, which production reaching 53,000 tons in 1923. A coconut grove on the island also produced 12 tons of [[copra]] per year. In 1921, France transferred the administration of Juan de Nova from Paris to [[Tananarive]] in its [[French Madagascar|colony of Madagascar and Dependencies]]. Then, before the independence of Madagascar, France transferred the administration of the island to [[Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]] on [[Réunion]]. [[Madagascar]] became independent in 1960, and it has claimed sovereignty over the island since 1972. An [[Aerodrome|airstrip]] was built on the island in 1934. Guano exploitation continued for several decades, with a pause in activity during [[World War II]]. The island was abandoned during the war, and it was visited by German submariners. Installations, including a hangar, rail lines, houses and a jetty are in ruins. [[File:TAAF JuanDeNova259.jpg|alt=Hector Patureau's house on Juan de Nova Island.|thumb|Hector Patureau's house on Juan de Nova Island.]] In 1952, a second concession was granted for 15 years to the Société française des îles Malgaches (SOFIM), led by Hector Patureau. This concession was renewed for 25 years in 1960, after [[Madagascar]]'s independence. Structures were built throughout the island to support the [[phosphate]] mining operation, including warehouses, housing, a prison, and a cemetery. The workers on the island came mainly from [[Mauritius]] and the [[Seychelles]]. Working conditions were extremely harsh, with rule-breaking punished by flogging or imprisonment, and each worker had to extract one metric ton of phosphate per day to earn 3.5 rupees. In 1968, Mauritian workers revolted, and the operation's management appealed to the prefect of Réunion for help. The revolt brought government and media attention to abusive practices on the island, including ''[[droit du seigneur]]'' being practiced by one of the foremen, and some members of the staff were fired by SOFIM's president. In the 1960s, the price of phosphate collapsed, and the mining operation on the island ceased to be profitable. SOFIM was dissolved in 1968, and the last workers left the island in 1975. The French government retook control of the concession, paying 45 million [[West African CFA franc|CFA]] to Hector Patureau in compensation. [[File:TAAF JuanDeNova60.jpg|alt=A beach on Juan de Nova Island.|thumb|A beach on Juan de Nova Island.]]
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