Watamu marine parks......
Watamu/ Malindi Marine Park and Reserve was created in 1968 - the first marine
park to be established in Eastern Africa. Watamu/Malindi Marine Parks and
Reserve cover an area of 229 km2 and are part of a UN Biosphere Reserve.
The protected areas consist of 2 Marine Parks: Malindi (6 km2) in the North
and Watamu (10km2) in the South, both contained within a Reserve that extends
3 and a half nautical miles seaward and encompasses Mida Creek (32km2).
This amounts to
approx. 30kms of coastline, with a fringing reef along its entirety, as well
as numerous patch reefs. Mida Creek is a diverse and rich ecosystem consisting
of mangroves, coral, crustacea, fish and turtles.
The Creek is a crucial breeding and developmental site for fish and turtle species. All forms of fishing, shell collection, and coral collection are forbidden within the Park, and only traditional fishing methods are permitted within the Reserve, allowing for a prolific and varied marine life.