Mayotte is part of the Comoro Islands archipelago, which lies within the Mozambique Channel in the western Indian Ocean.

Established in 2010, the park covers the entirety of Mayotte's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

The marine natural park covers the entirety of Mayotte's territorial waters and EEZ, totalling 68,300 square kilometres (26,400 sq mi).

[4] The northern Mozambique channel, which the park lies within, is considered a hotspot for marine diversity.

[7]: 2  Its creation may have been partially based on an attempt by France to better control the Mayotte area, which is claimed by Comoros.

Discontinuous internal reefs spanning 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the southwest of the island form the second barrier.

[2]: 25  The reef fish population of Mayotte is more diverse than those of Réunion or the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean.

[2]: 83 The park is responsible for implementing the National Action Plan for sea turtles in its area of jurisdiction.

[2]: 87 [7] Some conservation programmes are conducted jointly with the TAAF administration, which runs the neighbouring Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park.

[5]: 53 The France Nature Environnement organisation has criticised the level of actual protection, noting commercial fishing continues within the park.