Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cayos Perlas (Pearl Cays Wildlife Refuge)

Wildlife refuge established in 2010 (with WCS support) covering the Pearl Cays / Cayos Perlas, a group of ~18 cays about 35 km off Pearl Lagoon on Nicaragua's South Caribbean coast, ~700 km2. Protects critically endangered hawksbill and green turtle nesting sites plus some of the most intact coral reefs on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast (also home to tropical fish, lobsters, nurse sharks, rays). As a declared protected refuge, recreational spearfishing is not permitted (Law 489 excludes spearfishing from protected areas).