Creation of a Marine Protected Area network in Senegal
Posted on July, 13 2005
The Government of Senegal – in cooperation with local communities along the coast and several conservation, research and marine resources management organizations – has designated five new marine protected areas (MPAs), totalling 82,500ha.
This is an important step towards establishment of a viable, ecologically-representative MPA network in Senegal’s waters.These new MPAs will support sustainable fisheries management by protecting important fish breeding and nursery areas, and by securing support from fishing communities close to the parks to help with monitoring and surveys. It is anticipated this will encourage other communities to seek establishment of MPAs.Particularly significant in this process is the extremely strong community involvement starting with requests from coastal communities for MPAs, also in site selection and in final agreement on the creation of these five new MPAs.Senegal is at the heart of the West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER), one of the Global 200 – a science-based ranking of the world’s most biologically outstanding and globally representative areas of biodiversity, and a conservation priority for WWF. WAMER countries include Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea. WWF recognizes the creation of the five new MPAs as a Gift to the Earth – a globally significant conservation achievement, and an example of environmental leadership which can inspire others.
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