Madagascar protects bay of antongil marine area
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Prefects from Maroantsetra and Sambava, Madagascar, signed an order on September 16, 2026, temporarily protecting the Bay of Antongil marine area.
The 416,163-hectare site spans the Analanjirofo and Sava regions and serves as a breeding ground for humpback whales, hosting over 1% of the global population. Approximately 100,000 people rely on the bay’s marine resources. The temporary protection will lead to sustainable fishing practices through locally managed fishing areas, habitat protection, and increased surveillance involving local communities and judicial police.
Wildlife Conservation Society is responsible for ensuring the harmonious protection and development of the bay. This new protected area joins Tandavandriva Nosy Be, Atimo Vata’e, and Sorkay Sainte-Marie as recent additions to a network now covering more than 1.7 million hectares, supported by the GEF6-AMP project and the Global Environment Facility.
