Mayotte Marine Natural Park, Marine nature reserve in Indian Ocean, Mayotte

The Mayotte Marine Natural Park surrounds Mayotte in the Mozambique Channel and covers 68,300 km² of territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. It includes a lagoon enclosed by two barrier reefs, with an outer reef stretching 179 km, plus seagrass beds and open ocean. The park protects 760 fish species, 24 marine mammals and about 2,000 turtles.

Created in 2010, this marine park became the first protected sea area among France's overseas territories. Its establishment represented a major commitment to safeguarding ocean environments far from mainland France.

Marine products account for 63% of Mayotte's exports, and most fishing inside the park remains line fishing. Oceanic tuna vessels are barred from fishing within 24 miles of the coast. The park runs sea turtle and dugong action plans and supports school education programmes in Mayotte.

The park covers all of Mayotte's territorial waters and EEZ, 68,300 km² in total, so most visits focus on the lagoon reefs and islets around Grande-Terre. Oceanic tuna vessels may not fish within 24 miles of the coast, and most fishing inside the park is line fishing. The management board, with 41 members, sets an action plan each year.

Mayotte's lagoon is enclosed by two barrier reefs: an outer reef running about 179 km with a width of 800 to 1,500 m, and a discontinuous inner reef 12 km southwest of the island. The outer reef lies at depths of 30 to 80 m. The park also takes in the remote Iris, Geyser and Zélée banks, where over 100 fish species have been recorded per 100 m².