National network of eight new marine protected areas (2025)

In June 2025 (announced during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice) the Government announced the creation of the country's first formal network of eight marine protected areas (six around Principe, two around Sao Tome), totalling approximately 93 km2 of marine habitat, managed under the guidance of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Directorate (DPA) with partners (Fauna & Flora, Oikos, Fundação Príncipe, MARAPA). The establishing Decreto-Lei was approved by the Council of Ministers but, as of the latest reachable source (rede-ampstp.com, early 2026), still awaited the President's signature and publication in the Diário da República to come into force; the individual MPA names, boundaries and exact fishing rules were not yet officially published, so they are not enumerated here. As of June 2026 no confirmation of publication was found.