Coral islands surrounded by turquoise waters in the Gulf of Tadjoura are Marine Protected Areas, established in 1972 and 1980 respectively. Only artisanal fishing is allowed around the islands; this is defined as fishing using traditional techniques on trips not longer than a day or two. Collection of corals and mollusks is prohibited.

The islands lie north of Djibouti city; Moucha covers an area about 3 km², Maskali covers an area of about 10 km². The coastlines of the islands are steep, rocky cliffs intersected by sandy beaches. Both islands are surrounded by coral reefs rich in marine life.

The islands and reefs within and outside of the reserves are popular for weekend recreation, including snorkelling, diving and water-skiing. Human activity, reef trampling, collection of souvenirs and spearfishing are threats to the area.

Reference: http://www.reefbase.org/global_database ; http://www.persga.org