Socotra Archipelago marine protected areas (Conservation Zoning Plan, Decree 275/2000)

UNESCO World Heritage site (inscribed 2008) and Man and the Biosphere Reserve. The Conservation Zoning Plan, ratified by Presidential Decree No. 275 of 2000, defines marine National Parks (sea area ~1,514 km2) and marine Nature Sanctuaries (sea area ~154 km2) around Socotra, Samha, Darsa and Abd al-Kuri (12 terrestrial and 25 marine Nature Sanctuaries per the UNEP-WCMC datasheet). Article 9 of the decree prohibits taking wildlife 'with firearms or any other means without permit from the responsible authorities' and causing 'any harm to the environment' inside these areas; the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) manages them. Customary marine protected areas historically restricted fishing gear and seasons. Recreational spearfishing in Socotra's marine protected areas is therefore restricted/permit-gated; no published authorisation for visitor spearfishing exists.