26 A 22 page report on Assessment of Cetaceans in the Gambia has been produced by the ICAM
project following surveys conducted between January and April 2011. The report describes the project and study area, existing information, monitoring methods, the data collected,
interpretation of the data, difficulties encountered during monitoring, evaluation of methods, and recommendations for the assessment. The report concludes that the Bottlenose Dolphins
Tursiops truncates are currently the most abundantly found species in the river waters. Information from phase 1 and 2 indicate that cetacean sightings occur more often in the coastal
waters with a variety of species being sighted. A total of 5 species have been documented: Atlantic Humpback Dolphin Soura tenszii, Bottleneck Dolphin Tirsiops truncates, Clymene
Dolphin Stenella clymene, Long-Beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus capensis and the Short-Finned Pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynclus.
A colony of Dolphins in coastal waters.
5.2 West Indian Ocean-Certification of Marine Protected Area Professionals.
Mr Alagie Manjang, Assistant Director at the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management was funded by the Ba-Nafaa Project to participate, as an observer, in the level two certification
program offered by the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association WIOMSA to West Indian Ocean Marine Protected Area professionals in Mombasa Kenya in June, 2011. This
program is targeted at MPA site level professionals with supervisory responsibilities, similar to MPA Managers, Wardens and Section Leaders, to assess competences and practices essential to
perform effective management of Marine Protected Areas. The goal of the certification program is to establish a professional association that provides a framework to promote competence,
professionalism, leadership and ethical conduct in MPA management. The program was attended by 5 participants. Each of the five candidates had before the event
prepared and submitted a case study on one of the core competences assessed such as Policy,
27 Legislation and Compliance; MPA Concepts and Establishment; Communication and
Stakeholder Engagement; Financial Management and Fundraising; Management Operations; Biophysical and Social Environment Context and Leadership and Ethics. Candidates had the
choice to select and decide around which competence they can prepare written submission of the case study and prepare power point presentation. Preparation of the case studies was guided
through pre-prepared guidelines on both the content and structure of the case study. The assessment provides to a candidate, opportunity to demonstrate and or identify hisher level
of expertise, performance, practice and experience gained in Marine Protected Area Management. It is the candidate’s ability to provide evidences of practical experience,
application and testing of the knowledge and skills gained through formal trainings. The assessment process involved giving scores to candidates from hisher written case studies,
evidences contained in the portfolios, written assessment, interview and face to face discussion with the assessors.
In his back to office report, Mr. Manjang concluded that candidates who had the opportunity to undertake the assessment event and are certificated are true professionals who deserve to be
MPA managers. Mr. Manjang learnt 2 important lessons: i a certified level of competence is required to become an effective and efficient MPA manager and ii. it is important for MPA
managers to document their field achievements to help in identifying areas of competence and for the authorities to determine what kind of capacity development training is required by the
manager. Mr. Manjang recommends that the Regional Program for the Conservation of Marine and Coastal Areas of West Africa program PRCM should consider adopting the program to the
needs of MPA managers in the sub-region.
6.0 Project Management
6.1 Challenges, Constraints, and Opportunities
