The First and Second Archipelago was declared an Environmental Protection Area by the Government of Mozambique in 2012 to combat the rapid depletion of fish stocks.

The marine reserve covers the 10 islands, the stretch of ocean between them and the coast, a dispersion of estuaries and rivers and territories up to 20 km inland. It has na área of 10500km2.

The Archipelago is essential for the reproduction of sea turtles in the western Indian Ocean (it is the habitat for 5 of the 7 species of sea turtles in the world) and is home to migrating whales, dolphins and rare bird species such as terns. Vegetation in and around the low islands includes mangroves, sandy beaches, seagrass beds and coastal forest. At sea, the Archipelago has spectacular coral reefs.