Garajau

Garajau Partial Nature Reserve
Reserva Natural Parcial do Garajau
Purple sea urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis) at Garajau Marine Natural Reserve
Map
Coordinates32°38′N 16°51′W / 32.633°N 16.850°W / 32.633; -16.850
Area376 ha (930 acres)[1]
Max. elevation0
Min. elevation50 m (160 ft) below sea level[2]
Designated1986

The Garajau Partial Nature Reserve is a Portuguese marine reserve located on the Funchal Bay offshore Madeira Island. The protected area has existed since 1986.

It is a location for snorkelling and scuba-diving.[3] Dive centres exist in the Garajau Reserve. The Garajau reserve is listed on ‘the MPA Global’ a marine-focused database of the world's protected areas that have some intertidal and/or subtidal component.[4]

Marine species that can be seen in the Garajau Reserve include dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), moray eels (Muraena helena) and garden eels (Taenioconger longissimus). Hunting and fishing are forbidden within the Madeiran marine reserves. The second marine nature reserve in Madeira is on the north coast of the island: Rocha do Navio.

References

  1. ^ "Garajau". Protected Planet. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Garajau Parcial Nature Reserve". www.visitmadeira.pt. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Piece of Cake". Divernet.com. 21 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Search for MPAs - MPA Global - A database of the world's Marine Protected Areas". MPA Global. 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 9 September 2021.