Three MPAs to Support Coastal Communities

Madagascar is strengthening the protection of its oceans and supporting coastal communities. On August 2, 2025, a financing agreement enabled the creation of three new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering more than 1.5 million hectares.

The Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Max Andonirina Fontaine, participated in the ceremony at the General Directorate of Environmental Governance. This initiative reflects Madagascar’s commitment to tripling the size of its MPAs, according to the plan presented at the World Parks Congress in Sydney in 2014.

The project receives funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) via WWF. The agreement involves the project, the Foundation for the Support of Marine Protected Areas (FAPBM) as trustee, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as manager.

The new MPAs target strategic areas for biodiversity and the local economy. Atimo Vata’e, in Androy, attracts humpback whales and offers opportunities for eco-tourism. Antongil Bay protects sharks, rays, and other marine mammals while ensuring sustainable fishing areas. Tandavandriva in Nosy-Be concentrates whale sharks and dolphins, strengthening diving tourism and marine observation.

These three MPAs complement the Sorkay MPA in Sainte-Marie, launched in June 2025 and managed by the NGO GRET. Experts emphasize that protecting marine resources supports coastal communities, creates new sources of income, and attracts investors in sustainable tourism.

The GEF6-MPA project also includes rigorous scientific monitoring and training for local managers. According to Minister Max Fontaine, “these actions ensure the protection of sites while developing marine-related economic activities.”