WWF Fact sheet
West African Marine Ecoregion WAMER
Dakar Sénégal, +221) 869 37 00 wamer@wwfwafrica.org
THREATENED MARINE SPECIES
Born to be alive
Spanning 3,500 km of coastline in western Africa, the West Africa Marine Ecoregions sports an amazing
diversity of marine species. More than 1000 species of fish live in the waters off the coast, which is also home
to several species of dolphins and whales, 6 species of endangered marine turtles, octopus, and seals. But the
vast biodiversity of West Africa is under serious threat from people and industry, which threatens these species
habitats, their populations and their long-term future.
Why are species endangered ?
Population growth, poverty, coastal development, government bureacracy and commercial fishing represent the
dramatic pressures on the marine resources in West Africa.
Fishing presents one of the major threats to the health of the
region's marine environment. The decline of certain bottomdwelling fish species (shrimps, groupers) because of a high
consumer demand over the last 50 years, combined with the more
recent increased demand for shark fins, has led to a fisheries crisis
in West Africa. Several species have become extremely rare (eg.:
hammerhead and tiger sharks) and many other will be fished to
extinction in the coming years if things don't change. Hammerhead
and tiger sharks are particularly interesting examples, as these
species are comparable to the lions and the leopards of the sea.
As top predators, they stands out as “keystones species”. Governments have done much to protect lions and
leopards, but they continue to let the sharks of our oceans be harvested at unsustainable levels.
Marine turtles, monk seals, sharks, yellow mullets, octopus are among the other declining
species in the West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER)
WAMER is also an important region for marine turtles,
hosting populations of each of the six marine turtles species
(Loggerhead, Green turtle, Hawksbill, Olive ridley, Kemp’s
ridley, Leatherback). All six species are considered
endangered or critically endangered.
The human threats on marine turtles are both direct
(deliberate and incidental catch by gillnets, trawlers and
other fishing gears, over-exploitation of turtle eggs and
meat), and indirect (pollution, destruction or degradation of
the nesting and foraging habitats). Artisanal fishermen
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have been known to purposefully capture adults turtles in known foraging grounds on days when their fishing
captures are low (in Sine Saloum, Senegal for example). Coastal populations of Guinea Bissao, Senegal and
Cap Verde continue to eat turtle meat and their eggs, despite the species´ endangered status.
Another important species to the region is the monk seal. The Mauritanian coast and the north coast of Senegal
host the world's largest colony of the critically endangered monk seals (Monachus monachus). Like many other
marine species in West Africa, monk seals have been the victim of habitat destruction. The Banc d’Arguin
National Park in Mauritania has been declared a protected reproductive zone for the Monk seal, which has
helped to protect critical habitat for the species, but the seal's populations continue to decline.
Their home is in the West African Marine Eco-region
There are two marine turtles nesting sites in WAMER which have been identified as of global importance and
needing of protection. First the Islands of Sal, Boa Vista and Maio in Cape Verde, where approximately 3,000
loggerheads turtles nest annually, is thought to be the second most important nesting site for loggerheads in the
entire Atlantic Ocean. These sites have also reported significant populations of juvenile hawksbill turtles and
juvenile green turtles, making it an important habitat for the species to mature. The second site include the
Island of Poilao in the Bijagos Archipelo in Guinea Bissau, where an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 green turtles
nest annually during the rainy season. A third site, the feeding grounds of Sine Saloum (Senegal) and the Banc
d’Arguin National Park in Mauritania, have been protected. Preliminary results of a satellite survey done on
green turtles, show the migratory routes and feeding grounds in the region, signifying the importance of a
regional approach towards conservation and the establishment of marine protected areas.
Why should turtles, sharks monk seal be
protected ?
Every species on the earth has its specific place and
particular role in the ecosystem. For example, sharks
as predators are important to maintaining the balance of
the whole marine ecosystem. Marine turtles are
beautiful creatures and are among the most ancient
vertebrate species on the planet, dating from the days
of dinosaurs. But turtle species can provide important
economic benefits to communities. They are well
appreciated attractions all over the world, generating
tourism revenues for the communities where they can
be frequently seen.
The wide diversity of ocean species need to be treated with care as part of our rich global marine heritage.
Humankind is responsible for sharing habitat with species, and must protect them in order to maintain the web
of life and for both the long-term survival of both these important marine species and humanity itself.
For WWF, protection has no frontiers
The main stakeholders who can significantly reduce the threat to marine species in West Africa are local
communities, the governments of West African nations, the fishery sector and the tourism sector. Local
communities may be willing to reduce their traditional uses of turtles and turtle products once they learn about
the negative global effects, but educational awareness programs are drastically underfunded in the region. In
several places (for example in Poilao, Guinea Bisau), once local communities have learned about the
importance of protecting marine turtles, they have become active participants in conservation initiatives.
Disturbance to nesting beaches can be reduced through improved costal planning, appropriate siting of
structures and controls on lighting, as is currently planned in Cape Verde.
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Other threats can be addressed through stronger fisheries management that reduces the incidence of bycatch,
decreases the pressure on shark species, and addresses the impacts of trawling on benthic species. WWF's
West Africa Programme Office has made sustainable fisheries one of its primary focal areas during the past few
years, working to establish regional fisheries management bodies, models for sustainable artisanal fisheries,
and better national support for equitable access agreements with the European Union.
Additionally, WWF is pushing for better protection of turtle, shark and monk seal habitat through the creation of
respresentative networks of marine protected areas throughout the WAMER region.
The objective of the WWF WAMER programme is to build capacity for marine turtle management at national
and regional levels, address information needs for improved marine species management, strengthen regional
collaboration for the protection of important species, and to implement priority management actions like
improved fisheries management and the creation of marine protected areas.
Photo 1: baby sharks in Mauritania, WWF/ Seamus Murphy
Photo 2: Marine turtle (Dermochelys ? Please specialists, specify specie) in Mauritania, WWF/Lyne Larochelle
Photo 3: Shark in Cape Verde, by Sèverine Arnal
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Published by the Communications Unit, WWF WARPO (WAMER West African Marine Ecoregion) Sacré-Coeur III, B. P. 22928, Dakar,
Sénégal © WWF WAMER 2003 Tel.: +221 869 37 00 Fax: +221 869 37 02 wamer@wwfwafrica.org
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