• respect of minimal regional conditions concerning access to fishing areas; • good governance of fishery sectors priority for sustainable resource
conservation and exploitation in the interest of all the stakeholders; coherent, fair, credible and transparent process for allocating resources; joint decision-
making; • utilization of financial counterparts to strength the capacity for research,
surveillance, control and monitoring and for management of protected marine reserves;
• equity for both parties to the agreements; • scientific and technical cooperation at the regional and international levels;
• research into biological, economic and social sustainability;
The lack of transparency in the fisheries agreement negotiations, the inadequate control and surveillance of fishing by foreign vessels and the need to involve all the
stakeholders, including the national experts and professionals, in the negotiations decision process are problems of great immediacy. It is clear that both the artisanal
and the industrial fisheries sectors will suffer if management is not improved and if the present exploitation pattern is maintained. The effects can already be felt: lower
yields, unstable production levels, insufficient supply of processing plants and national markets, and conflict of interest within the sector WWF-WARPO, 2003.
The development of international trade is creating a strong, even alarming demand for certain species, e.g. shark, skate, cymbium, grouper, common sea bream, etc. For
skate and shark, a sub-regional action plan is needed. For the other species, stricter regulations are required WWF-WARPO, 2003.
3. Conduct fish stock assessments.
There is insufficient information about fishery exploitation and a need for periodic fish stock evaluation. Fishing cannot be sustainable if quotas are allocated without
knowledge of the available potential WWF-WARPO, 2003.
4. Nurture the regional network of MPA’s
Marine Protected Areas are powerful biodiversity management tools. Every country in the ecoregion has established marine protected areas because of their recognized
importance to fisheries, tourism, and biodiversity conservation. In February 2001 when WWF, IUCN, FIBA
Fondation Internationale du Banc d’Arguin , SRFC Sub-
Regional Fisheries Commissions: CSRP in French, and UNESCO co-sponsored a regional workshop of national experts. A Regional Strategy for West African Marine
Protected Areas was agreed upon and is currently being implemented under the PCRM.. Success will depend on the use of several cross cutting tools, including
communications, advocacy and lobbying, as well as the establishment of partnerships. Dialogue and consensus are the foundations of sustainable conservation and form the
operational cornerstone of the key part of the projects work. Over the coming years
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funds will be continuously sought to increase, the number of MPAs supported and established WWF, 2009b.
Funding MPAs in Western Africa still remains very dependent on international support, although the state budgets are increasing in some countries. The donors are
not numerous and almost all the regional system depends on a small group of institutions and organizations WB, DGIS, AFD-FFEM, Spanish Cooperation,
MAVA Foundation, BINGOs of the PRCM. Mechanisms for sustainable funding represent a major issue.
5. Protect endangered sea turtles:
Local communities may decide to reduce their traditional uses of turtles and turtle products once they become active participants in conservation initiatives. Fishery-
related impacts can be minimized through awareness campaigns for artisanal fishermen, as has been demonstrated in the Sine Saloum in Senegal and the Banc
d’Arguin National Park in Mauritania. Destruction can be minimized by adapting deployment of nets to reduce drowning, and by encouraging the industrial fishery
sector to install turtle excluder devices TEDs in trawls. Also, disturbance to nesting beaches can be reduced through integrated approaches to coastal planning, correct
siting of structures, and controls on lighting.
In most of the WAMER countries, information concerning turtle habitats and population dynamics is incomplete. Regional collaboration in collecting and sharing
of research data is needed to guide management actions and determine priorities. In addition, many of the marine turtle conservation issues are common throughout the
region, and individual countries have much to gain from sharing experience concerning legislation and awareness raising activities at different levels
communities, fishermen, tourism sector.
Build capacity for marine turtle management at national and regional levels, address information needs for marine turtle management, strengthen regional collaboration,
and to implement priority management actions WWF, 2009 b.
6. Inventory Marine Biodiversity trends in the region:
