Walter’s Shoal is a group of seamounts off the coast of Madagascar. The area is a unique feature in the southern Indian Ocean forming part of the Madagascar Ridge; despite being 700 kilometers from the coast, the tips of some of the mountains are only 50 meters below the surface. Walter’s Shoal is home to many species of fish, crustaceans and mollusks. The area has suffered immensely from overfishing and bottom-trawling, but there is nascent international discussion surrounding the need to protect this sensitive and richly bio-diverse area.
