Rasdhoo Madivaru MPA (Rasdhoo Atoll)

Rasdhoo Madivaru ('Hammerhead Point') is a renowned outer-atoll drop-off and sandbank in Rasdhoo Atoll (Alif Alif), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA/Sandbanks, 553 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree (IUL)438-ENV/438/2018/262 declared 7 Oct 2018 (amended (IUL)438-ENV/438/2023/352, 20 Jul 2023); recognised as an Ecologically & Biologically Significant Marine Area. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).