São Tomé and Principe (STP) is situated in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Africa. In the past 75 years, the number of migrating whale sharks gathering in its waters is estimated to have halved. On a scoping trip, Blue Marine connected with NGO partner Over the Swell, met government representatives and saw first-hand the challenges being faced by fishing communities.
Education and outreach are key components of the work here. Over the Swell has recruited and trained four former spear-fishers as conservation rangers, and a further 20 fishers as volunteer citizen scientists. With their help, Over the Swell has engaged more than 3,000 artisanal fishers, explaining the importance of whale sharks and other shark species to local ecosystems, and exploring the use of more sustainable and safer methods for small-scale fishers.
With our support, Over the Swell has monitored whale sharks in STP waters, recording more than 80 official observations. This data has been presented to the STP government, resulting in the inclusion of whale sharks as a protected species on two new government decrees: the Fishing Act, and the Marine Protected Area Act. These are now awaiting ministerial approval. Over the Swell has successfully tagged six whale sharks, and recorded more than 100 observations of other shark species.
Shark fins for export are the main target of the Uruguayan fishing fleet. But now the government intends to protect 30 per cent of its Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030. Blue Marine is helping them achieve that goal.
From kelp forests and cold-water corals to blue whales and orcas, Patagonia teems with exceptional biodiversity. Blue Marine works with multiple partners to promote the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) that can keep this wild place wild.
Whales migrate from South America along a ‘humpback highway’ to feed in the Southern Ocean. Blue Marine has helped protect a huge part of it, around the UK territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI).
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