Keep caring for Cameroon’s sharks and rays
Cameroon’s coastal waters are home to at least 45 known species of sharks and rays, 37 of which are classified as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List. With alarming numbers of juveniles being regularly landed in small-scale fisheries, including species such as the scalloped hammerhead, daisy whipray and blackchin guitarfish, Fetra and the researchers at the African Marine Conservation Organisation (AMCO) think there are nursery grounds in mangrove-rich waters that are increasingly degraded by overfishing. Fetra’s project will train fishers in safe handling and live-release practices, map nursery habitats and create the country’s first shark and ray reference collection to support education and conservation.
Fetra Metiegoum
I am Fetra! I am an ocean lover and a marine scientist with a Master’s degree in the management of aquatic ecosystems. I have two years of experience in marine conservation, with a strong focus on sharks and rays. My journey began as a volunteer field assistant with the African Marine Conservation Organisation (AMCO), where I worked in Kribi, Cameroon. There, I collected data on small-scale fisheries, supported fishers in releasing endangered species back into the ocean and helped to present conservation education in schools. This field-based experience has allowed me to gain a strong understanding of...
Keep caring for Cameroon’s sharks and rays
To reduce mortality in threatened sharks and rays in Cameroon’s coastal waters while empowering fishing communities to protect critical nursery habitats and contribute to marine conservation.
Sharks and rays in Cameroon are under severe threat from unsustainable fishing and most of the individuals caught are juveniles of endangered species. This project will train fishers in safe handling and live-release practices, map nursery habitats and create the country’s first shark and ray reference collection to support education and conservation.
Cameroon’s coastal waters are home to at least 45 species of sharks and rays, 37 of which are classified as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. Alarming numbers of juveniles are regularly landed in small-scale fisheries, including species such as the scalloped hammerhead, daisy whipray and blackchin guitarfish. This points to the existence of important nursery grounds in mangrove-rich nearshore waters that are increasingly degraded by overfishing.
Since 2015, the African Marine Conservation Organisation (AMCO) has worked to safeguard sharks and rays, launching fisher-led monitoring through the SIREN app and conducting fish market surveys along the coastline. Data have revealed that more than 90% of aquatic megafauna recorded were threatened elasmobranchs. To address this, AMCO piloted a community-led programme in Kribi, training fishers in safe-release techniques, mapping capture hotspots and successfully releasing Critically Endangered species back into the wild.
Building on these successes, the project will expand conservation to Londji, Lobe Waterfall, Mboa Manga, Ebodje and Campo, which border the Manyange na Elombo-Campo Marine National Park. Alongside fisher engagement, it will establish Cameroon’s first shark and ray reference collection. Preserved specimens will serve as a unique resource for schools and communities, fostering education and awareness.
Ultimately, this initiative aims to halt the decline of elasmobranchs; safeguard critical habitats and integrate community-driven conservation into the management of national marine protected areas; reduce elasmobranch mortality; and promote the long-term stewardship of marine resources along Cameroon’s coast.
- To reduce mortality in threatened sharks and rays through fisher training, live-release practices and safer fishing methods.
- To provide vital data on shark and ray catches by mapping capture hotspots, identifying nursery habitats and monitoring landings with fishers.
- To build a long-term foundation for conservation by establishing Cameroon’s first shark and ray reference collection, running school education campaigns and recognising fishers as conservation partners.