Goal: Strengthen transboundary ocean management in the Gulf of Guinea, including the measurable improvement of 55,500 km² of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the creation of new ocean conservation areas spanning 13,000 km²

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been instrumental in championing the creation of MPAs in both Gabon and the Republic of Congo, including the establishment of a transboundary park. With more than 30 years of experience in the region, WCS was the key partner in working with Gabon and the Republic of Congo to develop the Gabon Bleu and Congo Marine Initiatives.    

The waters of the southern Gulf of Guinea represent a key transition area between the warmer, more turbid waters of the Gulf of Guinea and the cooler waters of the Benguela Current. These seasonal upwelling zones support important coastal fisheries, several globally important populations of sea turtles, (including the single largest global nesting grounds for leatherback turtles in Africa), more than 70 species of sharks and rays, and habitat for many large marine mammals.  

This astounding biodiversity is threatened by overfishing and limited capacity for adequate protection. The region’s fisheries face unregulated and often illegal exploitation, with foreign industrial fishing fleets and semi-commercial artisanal fleets posing a major threat to the livelihoods of local fishing communities.     

In 2017, Gabon established Africa’s single largest ocean conservation area network (representing 26% of the country’s exclusive economic zone). Meanwhile, the Republic of Congo is working to build upon its progress in terrestrial conservation to establish and fortify a growing network of ocean conservation areas. The two countries see the creation of the recently established Congo Marine Initiative and the planned transboundary park as a means to address rampant illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and build overall stability and security across the region.    

In partnership with WCS, the Blue Nature Alliance is working to help Gabon and the Republic of Congo strengthen the transboundary management of 55,500 km² of existing MPAs and catalyze the creation of new ocean conservation areas spanning 13,000 km² in the Gulf of Guinea. Alliance support in the region will go towards 1) building the transboundary management capacity of associated government institutions and technical partners and 2) increasing compliance and support for MPA regulations through the establishment of community fishing zones along the coast.