Participatory management revitalizes Cameroon’s Manyange Na Elombo-Campo Marine Protected Area

• Local communities are increasingly involved in the management of the 110,300-hectare Manyange Na Elombo-Campo Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Cameroon to protect fragile coastal ecosystems.
• Residents are now active in sea turtle conservation, monitoring, and reporting illegal trawling activities to authorities.
• Challenges remain due to persistent illegal fishing, lack of government enforcement mechanisms, and a dependency on external funding for conservation operations.

Participatory Management and Traditional Knowledge

• The conservation office and the community association 'Tube Awu' developed a charter incorporating traditional Iyassa cultural practices into MPA rules.
• The 'Vilonda' season (a traditional storm-season fishing ban) was adopted as the official closed fishing season.
• Sacred sites, specifically Turtle and Wolf Rocks, have been designated as no-fishing zones to protect critical habitats.
• Local fishermen have shifted from consuming accidentally caught turtles to reporting them for rescue and release, turning a former threat into a conservation asset.

Illegal Fishing and Enforcement Hurdles

• Commercial trawlers frequently enter protected waters, destroying local fishing gear and depleting fish stocks, including threatened species.
• Despite using tools like Global Fishing Watch, authorities often struggle to stop vessels because ships frequently disable their GPS or use unauthorized flags.
• The current MPA decree lacks financial penalties for trespassing, limiting the deterrent power of local reports and observations.

Outlook and Future Steps

• Researchers have noted a decline in fish biodiversity and turtle nesting success despite ongoing community efforts.
• The conservation office plans to equip fishermen with mobile phones to document illegal activities with GPS evidence and install physical buoys to mark protected boundaries.
• A future management plan, supported by the African Development Bank, is under development to improve governance, though the timeline remains uncertain.