The Banc d’Arguin National Park (PNBA) is one of the largest national parks in Africa. The importance of the park in terms of biodiversity and cultural heritage requires guaranteeing its socio-ecological integrity. Aware of this situation, the PNBA managers and the Delegation for Fisheries Surveillance and Control at Sea (DSPCM) – now the Mauritanian Coast Guard (GCM) – set up a participatory maritime surveillance system in 1999 with the Imraguen, a local community of desert fishermen.

In the Joal-Fadiouth MPA (Senegal), community-based approaches such as participatory seagrass mapping enhance the legitimacy of conservation actions by drawing upon local fisherfolk knowledge and help raising awareness about ecosystem interrelations that are important to commercial fisheries and to the communities that depend on them.

Tracking the green turtles’ 1,000-kilometre migration from Guinea-Bissau to the lush seagrass meadows in Mauritania

This report synthesizes current knowledge of seagrass ecosystems, highlights their importance, and provides policy recommendations.

An introductory flyer presenting the project ResilienSEA.

An informative poster to easily identify the three main species of seagrasses found in West Africa.