Banc d'Arguin National Park (Parc National du Banc d'Arguin)

West Africa's largest marine protected area (~12,000 km2), established 1976, UNESCO World Heritage Site (1989) and Ramsar wetland (1982). Loi n° 2000-024 (Art. 10) prohibits all fishing across the entire park except as allowed by Arts. 11-12: only resident populations may fish, and only as subsistence 'pêche Imraguen' (on foot) or from sail boats ('lanches à voile'). Motorized boats are banned (Art. 17); trawls, seines and driftnets are prohibited (Art. 12). The park law (Art. 13.e) foresees that sport fishing ('pêche sportive') could be authorised inside the park, but only once its modalities and permitted zones are fixed by a decree that has not been identified — so recreational/sport spearfishing is not permitted. Penalties: fishing with a motorized vessel inside the park is fined 100,000-1,200,000 ouguiya (Art. 25); unauthorised fishing/tourism/research is fined 25,000-1,000,000 ouguiya plus up to 120 days (Art. 24). The Cap Blanc reserve is legally attached to the park (Art. 4).