St Helena MPA

St Helena Marine Protected Area
St Helena's MPA safeguards 448,411km² of ocean | established in 2016 | IUCN Category VI MPA | Designated Hope Spot

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

#FishyFriday! Endemic to St Helena, the reticulate tonguefish hides in sand across sandy & cobble habitats 🌊. Pale yellow-brown with white & dark mottling, it lies flat with both eyes on top of its body 👀, staying nearly invisible 🎨🪨.
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE💙

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

#FishyFriday! 🇸🇭 Endemic to St Helena, the St Helena decorator crab 🦀🦠 is often hidden under its own clever camouflage made of algae & sponge, keeping it safe as it moves among seaweeds, rocks & even ropes, buoys & ship hulls ⚓🪨.
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE💙

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

To read what the Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section has been up to for 2026 so far, click the link below 👀
🔗 https://t.co/D8vonsi6gP
🐟️#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE🐠

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

#FishyFriday! 🇸🇭 Endemic to St Helena, Melliss’s scorpionfish 🎨🐟 is deep red to orange-red with brown-spotted fins, with venomous spines ⚠️. A nocturnal ambush predator 🌙🦐🐠, it hides among rocks & sand, striking with lightning speed ⚡.
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE💙

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

#FishyFriday! 🇸🇭 Endemic to St Helena, the common sea anemone 🔴✨ has a broad, textured column and >300 bright red-brown tentacles ❤️🖤👑. Found on rocky shores 🌊🪨, it forms a striking crown where land meets sea.
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE💙

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

For further information please contact the Marine Compliance and Enforcement Section on: 📞 [phone]/64642, or email
📧 [email protected]

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

For further information please contact the Marine Compliance and Enforcement Section on: 📞 [phone]/64642, or email
📧 [email protected]

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

#FishyFriday! 🇸🇭 The endemic St Helena sea star 🌸⭐ has a dusky pink body with 5 rigid arms lined with bright white spikes 🤍✨. Masters of disguise, it buries itself in sand 🌊 and feeds on molluscs, worms, crustaceans & echinoderms 🐚🦐.
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE💙

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

Whake sharks often approach boats 🛥 & snorkellers 🤿 when they feel safe, creatung unforgettable experiences. Accredited operators follow strict guidelines to protect both people & marine life, ensuring encounters are safe, respectful and sustainable.

#smallislandBIGFUTURE 🐠

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

St Helena's waters are home to an extaordinary range of endemic species and charismatic visitors, including the whale shark, the largest fish on Earth! 🌊 If you'd like to interact with whale sharks in St Helena, you must use an accredited tour operator.

🐟 #StHelenaMPA

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

For further information please contact the Marine Compliance and Enforcement Section on:
📞 00290 25947/64642, or email
📧 [email protected]

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

Of course, we need to say our biggest thank you to the @ukgovbluebelt 💙🌊
Without their support, none of this would have been possible.

Thank you for helping us make a difference. 💙
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE #MAW26

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

And to round off our fin-tastic Marine Awareness Week, we took part in a sponsored swim organised by the Yellow Fins Swimming Club! 🏊‍♂️

A huge thank you to all the swimmers who took part, and to everyone cheering from the sidelines, your support made the event even more special

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

A special thanks to Phillip Yon, who generously donated our well-earned hotdog lunch 🌭, it was very much appreciated by everyone after all the hard work! Together, we’re making a difference for our marine environment. 💙🌍

#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE #MAW26

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

Keeping our oceans clean was the theme for our Saturday’s event during Marine Awareness Week (7th March)💙

We hosted a wharf and beach clean-up, and the turnout was absolutely amazing! A huge thank you to everyone who came along to tidy up the wharf and underwater at Jamestown.

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

Special thanks to Mr Gavin Jack Thomas for being a brilliant Quiz Master 🎤😄 and to Ann’s Place for hosting. Thank you to all businesses who donated fantastic prizes 🎁 We’re delighted to have raised over £350 for charity 🙌💙

Thank you to everyone who supported the event!

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

We had an amazing turnout at our Marine Awareness Week 2026 Quiz Night, held with the Good Tern Charity on 5th March! 🧠🌊✨Huge thanks to the 12 teams who took part — your enthusiasm made the night! 👏
#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE #MAW26
📸 Cerys Joshua and Adam Riggs

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

We then wrapped up the evening with pilau and drinks at the Dive Club and Yacht Club 🍽️🍻, where we had a chance to relax and chat We hope everyone who attended enjoyed the evening and found it useful, and we look forward to seeing you all at the next one! 💙🌍

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

A big thank you to all the fishermen who we invited to come down to take part in our Fishers Social on Tuesday 3rd March, as part of Marine Awareness Week 2026 🎣🌊

#StHelenaMPA #smallislandBIGFUTURE #MAW26

[St Helena MPA @sthelenampa]

This was followed by a practical, hands-on bait fish sampling activity, where we demonstrated how we collect and record data, including measuring weight and length, determining sex and maturity, and extracting otoliths of the baitfish. 🐟📏🔬