Isla e Islote de Lobos y su entorno sumergido (Isla de Lobos Marine Protected Area)

Uruguay's first marine protected area, declared a National Park within the SNAP by decree on 22 August 2024 ("Isla e Islote de Lobos y su entorno sumergido"). The island lies ~8.1 km offshore from Punta del Este and hosts the largest South American sea lion colony in the Southern Hemisphere. The decree prohibits landing/descent of visitors for recreation or tourism on the islands (including the emergent rocky perimeter), and prohibits fishing and hunting modalities that harm the local ecosystem. Protected core: 43.5 ha (main island) + 1.3 ha (islet) plus the submerged surroundings. Spearfishing around the island/islet falls under the prohibited 'fishing modalities harming the ecosystem' and the landing ban, so it should be treated as off-limits.