Protecting Congo’s coastline for marine wildlife and local communities

Congo Marine

Congo’s coastal area is home to rich ecosystems that provide essential habitats for endangered species. Its particularly productive waters support local fishing communities, but are under intense pressure from extractive industries. Since 2017, the Congolese government, WCS and other partners have been working together to promote the sustainable management of marine resources and to strengthen a network of Marine Protected Areas.
.
Photo Credit: .
MarinePA

The 3 Marine Protected Areas created in 2022, cover 4,000 sq km, 12% of Congo’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

 

Boat

About 87% of the 250 boats inspected between 2017 and 2019 were breaking the law

 

RayShark

Over 55% of the rays and sharks found in fishermen’s nets in 2019 were endangered species

LOANGO BAY MARINE PROTECTED AREA

Loango Bay is of major importance as one of only two feeding areas in Central Africa for green turtles and hawksbill turtles, which feed on macro-algae along the rocky coast adjacent to Pointe Indienne. The Loango Bay MPA is a focus for artisanal fishing, with the presence of a fishing community in the village of Matombi.

MVASSA MARINE PROTECTED AREA

Located south of Pointe-Noire, the Mvassa MPA is an important nesting ground for marine turtles, particularly green turtles, covering 24 sq km. Tourism already present on this coast could benefit from the creation of the MPA, and vice versa, thanks to controlled tourism during the nesting period.

CONKOUATI-DOULI MARINE AREA

The extension of the Conkouati-Douli National Park’s marine zone has tripled its size, from 1,369 sq km to 4,275 sq km. This extension improves protection of nesting sites for olive ridley and leatherback turtles, of important habitats for whales and dolphins, and of highly productive waters for commercial fishing species and vulnerable species of sharks and rays.

Image
CHALLENGES

 

  • Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing: the Congo is a particularly productive fishing zone underpressure from unsustainable practices. Endangered species fall victim to by-catch, and fish stocks are dwindling. 
  • Trawling and industrial overfishing: reduced fish stocks threatens the livelihoods of around 2,600 artisanal fishers with 35,300 dependents, and 26,900 indirect workers (involved in processing, marketing, etc.). 
  • Pollution from fossil fuels: the oil industry is economically crucial but poorly regulated. Poor law enforcement harms essential wildlife habitats and the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen. 
  • Urbanization: the region’s intense economic activity, driven by fishing and oil, has led to rapid, unregulated urbanization of the Congo coast - generating waste and impacting the area’s environmental integrity.

OUR APPROACH

MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING

The creation of the three MPAs in the Republic of Congo has increased the level of protection of its exclusive economic zone from 3.5% to over 12%, with a target of 30%. Eight other potential marine protected areas have already been identified and mapped.

RESEARCH AND BIOMONITORING

WCS, in partnership with the Centre for Ecology & Conservation (CEC) at the University of Exeter, contributes to research and monitoring of marine ecosystems to better inform conservation strategies. We have been collecting data, particularly on by-catch and illegal fishing, since 2001.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO MPAs

To ensure effective management of existing MPAs, WCS provides technical support to all stakeholders, including government, communities and NGO partners, drawing on data and research amassed over more than two decades on Congo’s coastal and marine ecosystems.

TRANSBOUNDARY COLLABORATION

To reinforce the regional commitment to protecting marine biodiversity and preserving artisanal fisheries, WCS is working with the cross-border «Blue Gabon» program, which covers the adjacent MPAs that make up the crucial Mayumba-Conkouati-Douli transboundary complex

© Cgo Mar
Photo Credit: © Cgo Mar

CONGO MARINE TIMELINE

2017

Government launches Congo Marin, an initiative to advance the protection of the marine environment.

2017

Presentation of the first results of the marine spatial planning

2018

Beginning of a review of the fishing law

2019

Installation of a VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) center for satellite monitoring and control of vessels

2019

Presentation of the final results of the marine spatial plan

2020

Stakeholder awareness campaign

2021

Presentation of the final version of the marine spatial plan and stakeholder consultation

2022

Gazettment of the country’s first three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
© Cgo Mar
Photo Credit: © Cgo Mar

FRUITFUL COLLABORATION

Initiated by the government in 2015, the Congo Marin program has involved a number of actors with which we have fruitfully collaborated, including:

Exeter

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

Research launched since 2015 on the Congolese coastal landscape has been carried out in partnership with researchers at the University of Exeter.

Rentura

RENATURA

A local NGO dedicated to the protection of Congolese marine wildlife, Renatura was instrumental in the creation of the country’s first 3 MPAs.

Noe

PARCS DE NOÉ

Manager of the Conkouati-Douli National Park, the NGO Parcs de Noé is involved in the marine protected area attached to the Park.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT