WWF - Conservation and environmental news & publications: Senegal

ACTIVITES PHARES DU WAMPO EN 2012

2013-01-08

La langouste et la cigale de mer pourraient bientôt bénéficier du label MSC si les activités prévues dans le cadre du projet de Gestion Durable des Ressources halieutiques (GDRH) devenu Projet Régional des Pêcheries en Afrique de l'Ouest (PRAO) se passent normalement. Le processus est en cours, déjà au mois de Juillet, s'est tenue à Dakar une pré évaluation des pêcheries de ces deux espèces par le Marine Steward Council, La Direction des pêches et le WWF en collaboration avec les acteurs de la pêche.

WWF WAMPO MAIN CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES IN 2012

2013-01-08

Lobster and slipper lobsters could soon benefit from the MSC label if the activities planned under the project Sustainable Management of Fisheries Resources (GDRH) now Regional Fisheries Project in West Africa normally occur. The process is ongoing, already in July, a pre fisheries assessment workshop of these two species was held in Dakar by the Marine Steward Council, The Department of Fisheries and WWF in collaboration with fisheries stakeholders.

BOOKLET ON THE STATE OF CONSERVATION OF MARINE TURTLES IN WEST AFRICA

2012-11-21

WWF WAMPO has recently published a booklet on the state of conservation of marine turtles in west africa

Thanks to the lobby work, WWF West Africa conducted over the past year, all 7 countries ( Mauritania, The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde) have put in place a national strategy plan for marine turtle's conservation. The booklet gives an overview of the different activities and main achievements of countries in the implementation of their national plans.

Main outcomes of the work on marine turtles which also have been highlighted in the booklet

• Now more and more information about nesting, breeding and growth sites and migration corridors of marine turtles are now available

• Communities and decisions makers are more committed and involved in the conservation of marine turtles.

• Marine turtle's conservation is now integrated into conservation national strategies in the coastal and marine zones of West Africa countries;
The booklet is for the moment published in French.

For more information about the booklet, please contact our species and Habitats Programme Manager, Mamadou Diallo

Official launch of the co funded EU and UNDP Project "Governance, marine resources management policies and poverty reduction in West African Marine Eco Region"

2012-09-24

The project "governance, marine resources management policies and poverty reduction in West African Marine Eco region" was launched Friday 21st September 2012 in Dakar (Senegal- West Africa). The official ceremony was presided over by the Senegalese prime minister in the presence of the European Union Representative, the UNDP Resident Representative in Dakar, WWF WAMP0 representative and delegates from the 7 countries covered by the project (Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bisau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone).

AfDB and WWF to launch Africa Ecological Footprint Report

2012-05-31

Arusha, Tanzania: The African Development Bank (AfDB) and global conservation group WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) have launched today a joint report on the state of Africa's environment.

The Africa Ecological Footprint Report: Green Infrastructure for Africa's Ecological Security takes stock of the health of Africa's ecosystems, as well as trends in resources use patterns. It also lays out recommendations on implementing green development pathways for Africa.

This report is intended to stoke up thinking on greener development in Africa and to rally action by policy-makers and investors in the lead-up to Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development taking place later this month in Brazil.

"Africa has choices", underlines AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka. "Embracing a more sustainable approach to development can generate benefits in terms of environmental security, human wellbeing, and increased competitiveness."

The Africa Ecological Footprint Report 2012 outlines two alarming trends, which if not addressed by policy-makers and investors are likely to lead to important social and economic impacts. First, by tracking the changes in wildlife populations as a proxy for ecosystem health, the Africa Living Planet Index shows a decline of nearly 40% in biodiversity in the last four decades. This decline reflects a degradation of the natural systems upon which Africa's current and future prosperity depends.

Second, rapid population growth and increasing prosperity are changing consumption patterns, with the result that Africa's ecological footprint – the area needed to generate the resources consumed by the people who live here – has been growing steadily. While Africa's total ecological footprint is set to double by 2040 in a business-as-usual scenario, the good news is that Africa is in an advantageous position to act. It is endowed with tremendous natural resources, which, if managed properly, will be able to meet the needs of a growing population. And its relatively low footprint may be maintained if forward-looking and large-scale solutions can be mobilised in the areas of renewable energy, urban planning, and sound management of forests, water and marine resources.

The opportunity and urgency to act to ensure adequate and equitable access to water, fuel and food in the coming decades is highlighted by Jim Leape, WWF Director General.

"Our ecological infrastructure – terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems – is as essential to human development as are industrial and social infrastructures such as roads, schools, hospitals and energy provision," said WWF's Jim Leape. "The Africa Ecological Footprint Report showcases successful and scalable initiatives across Africa in renewable energy, integrated water resource management, ecotourism and forest conservation. The report offers concrete recommendations for maintaining Africa's natural capital as the foundation for sustainable and inclusive development and I urge decision-makers to act on them."

Donald Kaberuka and Jim Leape launched the report together on 1 June as part of the AfDB's Annual Meetings in Arusha. The event, attended by AfDB senior staff, government ministers, NGO representatives, African business and financial leaders, and the African and international media, is intended to inspire interest and action from these key decision-makers. The report will also be featured at a side event of the Rio+20 conference in June.

AfDB and WWF formally entered into a partnership last July, agreeing to initially focus on three areas of cooperation: developing win-win partnerships with emerging economies and strengthening South-South cooperation; catalysing knowledge sharing and knowledge products for green growth and sustainable development; collaborating on energy and water resource management; and climate change. This report is the first joint product of this partnership.

With a recent tripling of its capitalisation to USD 100 billion, the AfDB is the most important multilateral institution financing development in Africa. As the continent faces rapid economic and population growth, and growing resource and climate pressures, the AfDB plays an essential role in ensuring sustainable and equitable development.

WWF is the world's largest environmental non-governmental organisation and has been active in Africa since its foundation more than 50 years ago. WWF works together with governments, businesses and local communities to deliver conservation and sustainable development worldwide.

To download the report, and to find out more, go to: www.panda.org/lpr/africa2012 or www.afdb.org.

STATUTS POUR UNE PECHE DE L'ALLIANCE DURABLE AU SENEGAL

2012-05-23

ARTICLE prçmier - Nom

It est fondé entre les Structures adhérentes aux présents statuts, une Alliance dénommée

< Alliancep ouru ne Pêched urablea u Sénégal .

ARTICLE 2 - Obiet et Durée

L'Alliancee st à but non lucratif. Elle a.p our objectif général,l a créationd 'un cadre pemranentd e

concertation entre les principaux acteurs de la pêche sénégalaise en vue d'assurer son

développemendtu rable.

Leso bJectifss pécifiquesp oursuiviss ont notamment:

- la créationd 'un espaced e concertatione t de dialogue;

- la mise en cohérence des politiques et des interventions;

- le partaged e l'information; : ,

- la veille, l'éveil et l?lerte sur le secteur de la Pêche et de l'Aquaculture;

- la promotion de l?quaculture durable;

- la promotiond e bonnesp ratiquesd e pêche;

- la conservationd es écosystèmesa quatiques;

- la contributlond e la pêcheà la GrandeO ffensiveA gricolep our la Nourrituree t

I'Abondance (GOANA);

- l'Appui - Conseil à la mise en æuvre de la politique de I'Etat dans les secteurs de la

Pêche et de l'Aquaculture ;

- I'Appui aux activités et initiatives du secteur privé et des acteurs locaux.

[a durée de lAlliance est illimitée.

RAPPORT DE LA CAUSERIE- CAFE ORGANISEE PAR L'ALLIANCE POUR UNE PECHE DURABLE AU SENEGAL

2012-05-23

Les objectifs de cette causerie - café sont i) de partager les études conduites sur les CLPA/CLP et sur la réflexion sur les UGD, ii) d'analyser les recommandations issues de l'étude – diagnostique des CLPA, iii) d'informer les décideurs politiques des recommandations de cette rencontre, informer et sensibiliser les acteurs et les parties prenantes sur l'amélioration du fonctionnement des CLPA, CLP et UGD et vi) enfin apporter une contribution à la réflexion pour améliorer la gouvernance locale des pêcheries artisanales

à travers les CLPA, les CLP et les UGD.

En conclusion, l'atelier a connu un grand succès médiatique malgré la période post électorale marquée par une prédominance de la politique. Nous avons réussi aussi à faire passer les messages clés de la causerie café à partir de l'analyse de contenus des articles et éléments diffusés dans l'audiovisuel. Nous avons mobilisé une trentaine de journalistes. Le succès médiatique explique l'invitation spéciale qui a été faite au président de l'alliance Monsieur Pape Samba Diouf pour prendre part l'émission Good Morning sur la 2STV le mardi 3 avril 2012. Les recommandations de la causerie-café seront finalisées et envoyer au nouveau

Ministre de la pêche et des affaires maritimes.

L'ALLIANCE POUR UNE PECHE DURABLE AU SENEGAL

2012-05-23

L'Alliance regroupe les services techniques de l'administration, les partenaires au développement, les organisations socio-professionnelles de la pêche ainsi que les organisations non gouvernementales (nationales et internationales) actives dans la gestion des ressources halieutiques au Sénégal.

Les objectifs de cette alliance sont :

- la création d'un espace de concertation et de dialogue politique ;

- la mise en cohérence des politiques et des interventions dans le secteur des pêches;

- le partage de l'information ;

- la veille, l'éveil et l'alerte sur le secteur de la pêche et de l'aquaculture;

- la promotion de l'aquaculture durable ;

- la promotion des bonnes pratiques de pêche ;

- la conservation des écosystèmes aquatiques ;

- la contribution de la pêche à la Grande Offensive Agricole pour la Nourriture et l'Abondance (GOANA) ;

- l'appui-conseil à la mise en œuvre de la politique de l'Etat dans les secteurs de la pêche et de l'aquaculture ;

- l'appui aux activités et initiatives du secteur privé et des acteurs locaux dans le secteur.

Un plan d'action triennal a été élaboré pour rendre opérationnel l'Alliance et lui permettre de jouer pleinement son rôle.

Le plan va contribuer aux objectifs globaux suivants :

- La gouvernance et la gestion des ressources halieutiques sont améliorées ;

- Les capacités d'influence des Organisations Professionnelles (OPs), ONGs et associations de la pêche sont renforcées ;

- La sécurité alimentaire et les moyens d'existence des communautés côtières sont améliorés.

L'objectif spécifique du plan d'action est : « L'Alliance pour une Pêche Durable est opérationnelle et constitue le levier pour une nouvelle dynamique de concertation et d'action pour une gestion et une bonne gouvernance de la pêche au Sénégal ».

La mise en œuvre de ce plan d'action permettra d'atteindre les résultats attendus suivants :

- la valorisation post-capture des produits halieutiques est améliorée à travers l'entretien des infrastructures des centres de pêche, la mise en place d'organes de gestion fonctionnels et un meilleur accès aux marchés ;

- des mesures (cogestion, cadres de concertation, modes et pratiques de pêche responsables, conservation) visant à assurer une gestion durable des ressources halieutiques sont appuyées et/ou mises en œuvre ;

- les capacités des acteurs impliqués dans la gestion des ressources halieutiques sont renforcées ;

- des activités génératrices de revenus et/ou de nourriture et respectueuses de l'environnement et des mécanismes de financement durable et d'encadrement adaptés sont appuyés et/ou mis en place.

Le budget nécessaire pour mettre en œuvre l'ensemble du plan d'action triennal est de 904 882 500 CFA soit environ 1 810 000 US $.

Contact : Dr. Papa Samba DIOUF

Téléphone : 00 221 33 869 37 00

E-mail : psdiouf@wwfsenegal.org

RAPPAM SENEGAL

2012-04-24

Ces aires protégées, réparties dans les différents domaines éco-géographiques sont regroupées en trois grands ensembles :

• le premier est constitué par le Parc National du Niokolo Koba (PNNK) en zone de savane soudanienne destiné à préserver les dernières reliques de la grande et moyenne faune sauvage terrestre du pays ;

• le deuxième ensemble regroupe des zones humides et/ou marines du littoral (PNDS, PNLB, PNIM, RNP, ROK, PNOD, RSFG, PNBC, RNICS, RNCP, 5AMP) qui, à travers une multiplicité d'habitats (îles, marais, lagunes, mangroves,forêts, etc.), jouent notamment un rôle primordial dans la migration des oiseaux du paléarctique occidental.

• le troisième ensemble représente l'écosystème sahélien principalement constitué de la Réserve de Faune du Ferlo Nord qui dispose encore d'une population résiduelle de gazelles à front roux (Gazella rufifrons) et d'autruches à cou rouge.

Cette réserve abrite depuis quelques années des espèces d'antilopes sahélo-sahariennes réintroduites (oryx, gazelle dama, gazelle dorcas). L'évaluation RAPPAM n'a porté que sur les aires protégées qui sont des zones humides et/ou marines situées entre Saint-Louis et le delta du fleuve Saloum, soit au total douze (12) sites sur les dix sept (17) que compte le pays. Les aires protégées continentales (Parc National du Niokolo Koba et Réserve de Faune du Ferlo Nord) ainsi que celles situées dans la région naturelles de la Casamance (Parc National de la Basse Casamance, Réserve Ornithologique de Kalissaye et AMP d'Abéné) n'ont pas été prises en compte dans cette évaluation.

Highlights

2011-12-19

WWF has been selected and contractualized by the Fishing Directorate to manage component 2 of the Project funded by the World Bank after a call for bid. Component 2 of the Project is about rehabilitating Ecosystems essential for coastal Fisheries. In the end, in collaboration with fishery communities in the sites covered by the project, WWF will create a protected fishing zone or Marine Protected Area covering Mbodiene, Pointe Sarene, Mballing and Nianing in the small Coast and another one in Dakar in the areas between Soumbedioune and ouakam. Artificial Reefs will be immersed at Yenn and Bargny. Lobsters and slipper lobsters in the fisheries of Dakar between Yoff and Soumbedioune are the species chosen for a process of ecolabelling under the MSC label. In sites hosting Protected Fishing zones and artificial reefs, access rights and their associated management tools will be defined.

Industries extractives et développement durable

2011-11-24

Ce livre présente une vue d'ensemble des aspects positifs et négatifs des activités d'exploitation pétrolière et gazière dans le monde entier, notamment en se concentrant sur la situation régionale ouest
africaine ainsi que les projets d'énergie nationale et de développement durable. Ce livre vise à aider les gouvernements et les sociétés civiles de la WAMER à mettre en harmonie les questions afférentes aux
activités pétrolières et gazières et les priorités nationales de développement.

MANUEL DE FORMATION DES OBSERVATEURS DES PÊCHES

2011-11-24

Dans l'optique d'une préservation des ressources halieutiques, chaque pays peut s'il le désire développer un programme « observateurs » pour obtenir en temps réel des informations sur l'état de la ressource. En effet, seule la présence d'un observateur à bord permet d'obtenir des données fi ables sur les captures, sur les rejets et sur la régularité des opérations à bord d'un navire de pêche. Cet aspect est particulièrement mis en exergue par la Convention relative aux mesures du ressort de l'Etat du port visant à prévenir, contrecarrer et éliminer la pêche illicite, non déclarée et non réglementée» adopté en 2009 par la FAO.

Ainsi, la formation et le renforcement des capacités des agents de surveillance est une étape cruciale dans la mise en oeuvre des outils de suivi contrôle et surveillance.

METHODE D'EVALUATION DES IMPACTS DES ACCORDS DE PECHE

2011-11-24

Face à cette situation d'urgence, les partenaires du PRCM (WWF, UICN) en étroite collaboration avec la CSRP ont conduit cette étude visant à élaborer une méthodologie simple et peu coûteuse d'évaluation des accords de pêche.

L'objectif de l'étude est de développer une méthodologie d'évaluation des accords de pêche dans l'espace CSRP.

Relativement à la problématique des accords de pêche, les questions centrales traitées ont porté sur le surplus de production et la gouvernance des pêcheries. D'autres questions soulevées par les accords de pêche ont fait aussi l'objet d'une analyse approfondie. Elles ont porté sur la subvention de la flotte étrangère, la compétition entre flottilles nationale et étrangère et les nombreux avantages comparatifs de cette dernière en termes d'efficacité technologique, de possibilités d'accès aux marchés internationaux et de barrières non tarifaires en sa faveur.

Une analyse historique des accords de pêche a permis de mieux cerner leurs implications et de les replacer dans leur contexte actuel.

L'évaluation des emplois dans les pêcheries artisanales maritimes sénégalaises

2011-10-31

Si certains indicateurs économiques comme la valeur ajoutée nette générée, la contribution à la production intérieure brute et au budget de l'Etat, l'impact sur la balance commerciale et la fourniture de protéines animales peuvent être calculés avec précision par le biais de méthodes avérées, tel n'est pas le cas avec le nombre et la nature des emplois créés par la pêche. Depuis une dizaine d'années
une information est en permanence affichée dans les différents rapports techniques des administrations de pêches à savoir « la pêche occupe près de 15 % de la population active sénégalaise soit environ 600 000 personnes ». Cette information « grossière » ne permet pas de préciser le nombre d'emplois par type de métiers. Une
tendance a toujours consisté à faire une dichotomie entre emplois directs (pêche) et emplois annexes (transformation artisanale des produits halieutiques, réparation des moteurs hors-bord, construction de pirogues, etc.). Une telle approche ne pourrait qu'ignorer tous les emplois dits périphériques qui assurent des moyens d'existence à des milliers de familles le long du littoral sénégalais.

Connaissances Ethnozoologiques Relatives aux Tortues Marines dans l'Ecorégion Marine de l'Afrique de l'Ouest

2011-10-31

L'ethnozoologie est une science jeune dont le développement récent fait suite à la prise de conscience que le considérable savoir contenu dans les cultures tant indigènes que populaires est rapidement aliéné, voire perdu, lorsque les écosystèmes naturels et les cultures sont détruits suite à des modifications liées au développement non durable.

Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre du Programme
d'Action Régional pour la conservation des tortues marines initié par le
PRCM.

Environmental Education Programme in Joal Fadiouth: using paintings to sensitize

2009-09-25

The second phase of the environmental education programme started in Joal Fadiouth, an area where WWF WAMER is very active mainly through the development and the management of the marine protected area, the protection of sea turtle, restoration of the mangrove, sustainable fishery, and thrash management.

A survey conducted recently by WWF volunteers has shown that Environmental education programme is the best way to sensitize people on environment degradation in Joal Fadiouth.

The Environmental Education Programme (EEP) is directed to primary and secondary schools in Joal Fadiouth with 80 schools boys and girls between the age of 8 and 15. The EE Programme is conducted with three steps:

School boys and girls are given lessons and information about the environmental problems Joal Fadiouth is facing like degradation of the mangrove, depletion of fish stock, sea turtles consumption;
They are taken in the field to see the reality of those issues; all these steps are done under the supervision of teachers and environment and fishery experts.
After combining and collecting information, they produced factsheets, and paintings. This year, the novelty is that schools boys and girls based on what they have seen and learnt will produce works of art on environmental thematic with the help of professional painters.

Those who will make the best paintings will be awarded during a public ceremony.

Wamer Infos

2009-04-17

WWF WAMER clarifies the debate between the Senegalese Minstry of Environment and Ministry of Fisheries (Ministry of Maritime Economy) over administrative and technical supervision of the AMP. The intense media campaign included press releases, publicized stakeholder interviews and a field visit to the WAMER supported Marine Protected Area in Joal Fadiouth all of which encouraged the Senegalese government to take a final decision. The Head of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Maritime Economy announced the formation of a Marine Protected Areas Directorate within his Ministry at the recent General Assembly of GREP the environmental press NGO, The announcement followed a marine protected areas (MPA) co-management workshop which brought together MPA managers, fisheries managers, and MPA management committees during which the participants voiced serious concerns about several issues including MPA funding and the
impediments to operations linked the confusion within government between the two ministries.

Joal-Fadiouth: The making of a community-based MPA

2009-03-23

WWF WAMER plays a crucial role in the creation and management of MPAs in Senegal and Cape Verde- from the collection of baseline biodiversity and socio-economic data to the formulation and implementation of management plans. In Senegal, 4 sites (Joal-Fadiouth, St. Louis, Cayar, and Abéné) are currently in various stages of development. Thanks to the combined efforts of government bodies, local communities, and the WWF WAMER, Joal Fadiouth MPA has been the first to be fully operationalized. Communities are the foundation: Ensuring community support and commitment is at the core of WWF WAMER's MPA strategy and was a key criterion in the site selection process which reduced an original list of 33 potential sites to 4: Joal Fadiouth, Cayar, Abene and St Louis. The strategy is based on co-management principles whereby communities and government authorities share management authority and responsibility. According to WWF WAMER's Coordinator, Dr. Papa Samba Diouf, "'Co-management' means that communities understand, adapt, appropriate, and actively participate in running marine protected areas which in turn helps to protect marine and coastal resources vital to their needs. Co-management is critical to the sustainability of conservation efforts so it's important to invest enough time and effort and to have a solid communications strategy for the different sites. With the objective of ensuring community ownership of the MPA in Joal-Fadiouth, 16 different stakeholder groups representing fishers, fish processors, private sector users, tourism professionals etc. were consulted. Several meetings between user groups, National Parks representatives and those of Fishery. Department were held with technical and financial support of WWF WAMER to explain the objectives and roles of the MPA. A communication strategy was drafted with the community radio station at the center. The stakeholders elected a MPA Management Committee and members of various subcommittees. MPA activities, such as the collection of baseline surveys, participatory zoning, and the drafting of management guidelines were coordinated by the Management Committee in partnership with local government. Even the installation of the buoys, which demarcate the geographic limits of the MPA, was discussed and agreed by all stakeholders. A good example of co-management in action is the park surveillance system whereby members of the surveillance committee patrol both day and night with National Parks officers. The committee members are mainly fishers who contribute their time for free. Capacity Building: The MPA concept is quite new and their management is under the responsibility of both the Management Committee and local government - mainly National Parks and the Fisheries Departments. Given the complexity of management tasks and the variety of stakeholders, training has been provided to help the various parties to learn to work together and the build a common vision on what co-management entails. A workshop was organized for members of the Management Committees and local government authorities from the 5 existing MPAs in Senegal. This was followed by a site visit to the nearby Bamboung MPA which has been operational for several months to allow participants to see how the process works and to speak directly with community members. Income generating activities: The creation of the Joal-Fadiouth MPA meant that some stakeholders like marine turtle hunters and traders, would have to end their activities because the capture of marine turtles is forbidden in the MPA. WWF WAMER helped them to organize into an association and provide support for their conversion to other income generating activities like guiding tourists. The same thing is underway with the purse seine fishermen whose activities are also forbidden within the limits of the MPA. WWF is helping them to organize and is ready to fund them to adopt alternative activities. Joal Fadiouth MPA is an evolving example of how comanagement of an MPA can lead to greater satisfaction and empowerment of local communities, government bodies and interested parties from many countries in the sub region. When MPAs are carefully developed, both nature and people win.

Battered sharks get critical listing

2008-12-05

Rome, Italy: Four commercially valuable shark species have just been recognized as being "of conservation concern" under the international Convention on Migratory Species.

The listing applies to northern hemisphere populations of spiny dogfish, a common ingredient of food staple fish and chips, and global populations of Porbeagle shark and both species of mako shark.

Intense debate saw southern hemisphere populations of spiny dogfish excluded from the listing on the agreement that a comprehensive population review will be conducted for the next meeting of the convention.

"WWF welcomes this listing by the CMS--the first listing by an international conservation convention of commercially utilized shark species," said Dr Susan Lieberman, director of WWF International's Species Programme.

"This shows that the world community now recognizes that sharks are over-fished, declining, and worthy of the kind of conservation concern afforded to other species."

The sharks have been listed under Appendix ll of the convention, which supports co-operation between range states on conservation plans for listed species. For migratory species it focuses attention on the status of the species and can help trigger other regional and international initiatives in fisheries management and trade.

The sharks, which are among the most valued of shark species for both meat and fins, suffer from excessive levels of targeted fishing as well as being bycatch casualties of other fisheries such as purse seining and long-lining for tuna.

The slow growth, late maturity, small litters and long lives of sharks make them vulnerable to over-exploitation. Porbeagle sharks gather together, making them especially easy targets for fishing – a critical factor in the collapse of their populations in the 1970s and continuing failure to demonstrate any lasting recovery.

Listing of all four species across their entire ranges was proposed but the porbeagle shark and the compromise on spiny dogfish were only agreed after intense negotiation.

WWF has also raised concerns over declining populations of Mediterranean bluefin tuna – subject of a recent International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) decision to continue fishing at well over scientifically recommended levels – as a species of concern before the migratory species convention.

WWF Signs New Agreement for African Cetaceans

2008-12-05

Mamadou Diallo, from the WWF's West African Marine Ecoregion Programme today signed a new intergovernmental agreement to conserve the West African Manatee and Small Whales in Western Africa and Macaronesia.

The conservation instrument consists of 2 Action Plans for the conservation of theses species was first adopted by 15 countries in Togo in October, and opened for signatory by implementing partners today.

Along with WWF, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society also signed the agreement.

More than 30 small cetacean species will be covered in this agreement, in an area that stretches from Macaronesia, through Morocco to South Africa.

The need to conserve and raise awareness of western Africa's marine mammals is as pressing as ever. Various threats, includin:

direct and accidental catch,
coastal development,
pollution and
habitat degradation,

...have caused western African marine mammal populations to decline rapidly. These issues require action on a regional, national and global level.

This agreement can play a vital role in future conservation efforts by helping to facilitate transboundary cooperation and by providing an international platform to negotiate and coordinate research and conservation measures.

15 country representatives signed the agreement in October - Angola, Benin, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Togo).