Ankarea Marine Protected Area

The Ankarea Marine Protected Area (MPA) is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in northwestern Madagascar. The area is known for the highest richness in coral species in the Western Indian Ocean.

Ankarea Marine Protected Area comprises the rather large island of Nosy Mitsio and an archipelago of 16 islands.

Amongst the aims of the Ankarea Marine Protected Area is "the conservation of resources that are heavily used in the area such as sea cucumbers" (see article below). Locals are allowed to harvest sea cucumbers on small scale, usually near the shore on foot or in small pirogues. Large-scale fishing with modern instruments such as oxygen tanks is forbidden. Due to the high demand of sea cucumbers in Asia, where the dried catch is exported to, illegal sea cucumber fishing is a serious threat to the coral reefs in the Ankarea area. Regular patrols organised by the Madagascar's Ministry of Fisheries and local communities are a try to get the illegal fishing under control.

Additional Information

• Madagascar gets tough with poachers - Article about illegal sea cucumber fishing