Garajau

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.

Coordinates32°38′N 16°51′W

Area376 ha (930 acres)^[1]

Max. elevation0

Min. elevation50 m (160 ft) below sea level^[2]

Quick facts Coordinates, Area ...

Garajau Partial Nature Reserve
Reserva Natural Parcial do Garajau
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Purple sea urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis) at Garajau Marine Natural Reserve
Interactive map of Garajau Partial Nature Reserve
Coordinates	32°38′N 16°51′W
Area	376 ha (930 acres)[1]
Max. elevation	0
Min. elevation	50 m (160 ft) below sea level[2]
Designated	1986

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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.