Are designated areas of mainland Tanzania,declared under the Marine Parks and Reserves Act. No.29 of 1994.They include:
- Any area within territorial waters or the exclusive economic zone or any island or coastal area declared as a marine park or reserve by the Minister for the time being responsible for marine parks and reserves.

- all submerged or dry land, waters, airspace, tideland and subsoil within the area as described in the declaration notice or general management plan of the area and

- a buffer zone, namely any area outside of, but generally adjacent to, a marine park boundary that is designated as such under the General Management Plan of the park in question.

N.B In Zanzibar (including Pemba),marine protected areas are designated under separate legislation specific to Zanzibar.Gazetted areas include:
1. Chumbe Island Marine Sanctuary.
2. Menai Bay Conservation Area (MBCA) in Unguja.
3. Mnemba Conservation Area in Unguja.
4. Misali Island Conservation Area (MICA) in Pemba.

A Marine Reserve, from functional (where some resource use occurs) to preservation, constitutes a defined space of coastal, marine resources and environment to which specific forms of management is applied which normally includes limited entry, e.g, Bongoyo and Mbudya Island Marine Reserves,

whereas,

A Marine Park is a specialised version of a marine reserve where various community users and habitation is encouraged through a strict zonation scheme, and emphasis on education, recreation and preservation is highly recommended through participatory management approaches, e.g., Mafia Island Marine Park.