---
title: "Mexico establishes a large Marine Protected Area around two Laysan Albatross islands in the Revillagigedos Group"
---

# Mexico establishes a large Marine Protected Area around two Laysan Albatross islands in the Revillagigedos Group

Last week Mexico declared a large Marine Protected Area arounds it Revillagigedo Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The 150 000-km² MPA will be closed to fishing, oil and gas extraction and and development for tourism in the area; recreational diving will be allowed ([click here](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mexico-declares-north-americas-largest-marine-reserve-180967309/)).

 The Reserva de la Biosfera Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, made up of four islands, and its surrounding waters were inscribed as a [Ramsar Wetland Site of International Importance](https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1357) in 2004 with an area of 636 685 ha. Two of the four islands, [Clarión](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1310-acap-breeding-sites-no-6-clarion-island-revillagigedo-archipelago-mexico-where-snakes-prey-upon-albatrosses?highlight=WyJyZXZpbGxhZ2lnZWRvIl0=) and [San Benedicto](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/1648-acap-breeding-site-no-62-san-benedicto-island-mexico-has-a-small-growing-population-of-laysan-albatrosses?highlight=WyJyZXZpbGxhZ2lnZWRvIl0=), support small breeding populations of [globally Near Threatened](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/Laysan-Albatross)Laysan *P. immutabilis* Albatrosses. The island group has been a Biosphere Reserve from 1994 and was made a [World Heritage Natural Site](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2537-world-heritage-status-for-mexico-s-revillagigedo-islands-will-help-protect-their-laysan-albatross-and-townsend-s-shearwater-populations?highlight=WyJyZXZpbGxhZ2lnZWRvIl0=) in 2016.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan Albatross Clarion Island Angel_Wanless shrunk.jpg)

 An incubating Laysan Island on Clarion Island, photograph by Andrea Angel/Ross Wanless 

 The islands are uninhabited except for a small Mexican naval presence.  Read more [here](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mexico-designates-north-america-rsquo-s-largest-ocean-reserve/).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 01 December 2017*