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OCPP Madagascar. Review of marine species protection Legislation: Phase 1 Final Report – Precautionary update of existing wildlife protection legislation to add priority marine species) 2025

Abstract

This report outlines support provided by JNCC and RESOLVE Consultancy to the Government of Madagascar through the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) to review and strengthen legal protection for marine biodiversity. It examines gaps in Madagascar’s existing protected species legislation (Decree 2006-400), which currently focuses on terrestrial species and lists only five sea turtles among marine species, omitting many threatened marine megafauna, fish, and invertebrates.

A review was undertaken which assessed Madagascar’s obligations, under international agreements and conservation frameworks, to develop criteria for identifying marine species requiring full protection or regulation. The review produced proposed protection lists for marine mammals, reptiles, sharks and rays, coelacanths, bony fish, and later invertebrates, which were validated during a multi-stakeholder workshop with government ministries, scientific institutions, NGOs, and partners, resulting in agreed criteria to guide future legal revisions and conservation action.

This resource may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy in a different format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Oceans

Reference date 2025·08·20

Citation
OCPP. 2026. Review of marine species protection Legislation. Phase 1 Final Report – Precautionary update of existing wildlife protection legislation to add priority marine species.

Lineage
This resource is a deliverable of the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), a UK-led programme funded through the UK’s Blue Planet Fund.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC pointOfContact

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2026·03·11

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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