Conserving threatened marine fish species in Benin

Surveys and sensitisations among users of the Artisanal fishing harbour of Cotonou (POPAC), Benin for conserving nine IUCN-listed threatened (VU, EN, CR) marine fish species.

Many of Benin’s marine teleost fish species are classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Overfishing and habitat degradation caused by human exploitation of marine waters menace the sustainable conservation of fish species.

Against this background, this project aims to reduce human-induced threats to nine threatened fish species inhabiting the Benin’s marine waters, in order to improve their conservation status. To achieve this, we will assess the knowledge level of the conservation status of these species among stakeholders in the Artisanal fishing harbour of Cotonou (POPAC) and its fish market, document species-specific fishing-related threats, raise awareness among stakeholders for the sustainable conservation of these species, initiate an observer programme and support volunteer observers for the subsequent monitoring of catch rates of threatened species.

We expect this project to bring behavioural changes that will reduce fishing pressure and plastic pollution of Benin coastal and marine waters from users of the POPAC.