Malpelo

Malpelo includes three national MPAs: Gorgona National Park (61,688 ha), Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (4,815,114 ha) and Yurupari-Malpelo National District of Integrated Management (12,370,959 ha), as well as a large extension of pelagic environment, mainly oceanic. There are two highly contrasting environments that facilitate the presence of a high marine biodiversity. Gorgona Island boasts a diverse ecosystem with a combination of soft, rocky bottoms, and coral reefs. This unique habitat supports a wide variety of invertebrates, benthic species, and pelagic fish. Malpelo Island, which is the only emerged portion of the Malpelo Ridge, provides a vital habitat for pelagic species. These species utilize the island as feeding, resting, and refuge zones, taking advantage of its presence in the surrounding oceanic environment. It includes seamounts located along the Yurupari and Malpelo Ridges, which attract migratory species of marine megafauna and pelagic fish.