The Rocherpan marine protected area was declared in 1988. The area is 150 hectares in size.

Rocherpan is dominated by the large central vlei (a shallow natural pool of water) and a 4.7km stretch of sandy Atlantic coastline, of which the southern 3km, and the area 500m seaward, constitutes the marine protected area. It offers protection to diverse marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats.