The Antongil Bay marine protected area has been granted temporary protection status as of September 16, 2026. The prefects of Maroantsetra and Sambava, meeting in Maroantsetra, co-signed the decree establishing this regulatory step, which serves as a prerequisite for the final classification of the Marine Protected Area (MPA).
The site spans 416,163 hectares, distributed across the Analanjirofo and Sava regions. Humpback whales come here to breed every austral winter, with a concentration representing more than 1% of the species’ global population. It covers seventy-four fokontany within sixteen coastal communes in the districts of Maroantsetra, Mananara North, and Antalaha. Nearly 100,000 people depend on the bay’s marine resources.
Several measures are now being implemented on the ground following this decision. These include the development of sustainable fishing through Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA), the protection of sensitive habitats, and surveillance patrols involving local communities and judicial police officers.
Antongil Bay, whose protection and harmonious development are ensured by the Wildlife Conservation Society, joins three other recently secured sites: Tandavandriva Nosy Be, Atimo Vata’e, and Sorkay Sainte-Marie. This network, supported by the GEF6-AMP project and implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), now covers more than 1.7 million hectares.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-19 06:23:45 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/environnement-laire-marine-de-la-baie.html