Decree-Law No. 03/2026 on the Network of Marine Protected Areas of São Tomé.

This Decree-Law establishes the Network of Marine Protected Areas of São Tomé and Príncipe (RAMP‑ST) as part of the national framework for marine conservation. Its primary objective is to formally create and classify the first two Marine Protected Areas— Ilhéu das Rolas–Malanza–Jalé (AMP/ST 01) and Santana (AMP/ST 02)— to safeguard ecologically significant habitats and species. It identifies multiple ecological justifications for these designations, including the protection of vulnerable ecosystems, preservation of biodiversity, restoration of degraded habitats, maintenance of fish stocks, and enhancement of climate resilience. This legal framework reflects a broad, participatory process involving local communities, government institutions, and civil society, ensuring that the protected areas reflect consensus and local priorities. It also aims to define the management, zoning, and regulatory regime governing these protected areas, classifying both AMPs as habitat or species management areas and outlines rules for permitted, conditional, and prohibited activities, ensuring sustainable use while preventing actions that threaten ecological integrity. In addition, it establishes requirements for developing management plans within one year, sets out enforcement mechanisms through the national system of sanctions, and introduces transitional provisions to integrate temporary rules into future management plans.