Velondriake, Marine protected area in southwestern Madagascar.
Velondriake is a marine protected area on the southwestern coast of Madagascar covering around 64,000 hectares. The waters contain coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and other marine habitats that work together as a connected ecosystem.
Local communities founded this as a managed marine area in 2006 and secured temporary legal protection in 2010. The protection became permanent in 2015, giving the marine region lasting status.
The name Velondriake comes from the Vezo dialect and reflects how deeply the coastal communities depend on the sea for their survival. Local villages have created their own rules about fishing and how to use the waters, which shape daily life here.
Twenty-five villages manage this area together through elected representatives who set fishing rules for each zone. Respecting these local rules helps support the communities that protect and maintain these waters.
Five permanent coral reef reserves within the area receive special protection and monitoring to keep the ecosystems thriving. Two mangrove reserves alongside them provide ways for fishers to earn income through sustainable harvesting instead of fishing alone.
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