Marine De La Réunion, Nature reserve on western coast of Reunion Island, France

Marine de La Réunion is a national nature reserve along the western coast of Reunion Island, covering shallow lagoons, coral reefs, and deeper offshore waters across several coastal communes. The reserve spans the coastline of L'Etang-Salé, Les Avirons, Saint-Leu, Saint-Paul, and Les Trois-Bassins, forming a continuous protected corridor along the reef.

The reserve was created in 2007 after years of scientific work showed how much the western reefs had suffered from fishing pressure and coastal development. Its creation marked the first time a coordinated legal framework covered such a long section of the island's coastline.

Traditional shore fishing, called pêche à pied, is still tolerated under rules: a permit, set seasons, quotas and a limit of 800 cards. Volunteer underwater observers, the Sentinelles du Récif, have recorded reef life since 2012. Guided walks on the Sentier de L'Ermitage explain the lagoon to school groups and tourists.

Snorkeling in the lagoons is easiest when the sea is calm, so checking local water conditions before heading out is a good habit. Some sections of the reserve are off-limits to visitors, and it is worth finding out which areas are open before you arrive.

Five no-entry sanctuaries exist within the reserve: two at L'Ermitage, one at Pointe des Châteaux, one in the Saint-Leu lagoon and one in the Étang-Salé les Bains lagoon. Each is marked by several-metre-high orange posts planted in the lagoon, with the enclosed area explained on reserve panels set up in front of the beach.