Here’s to This Country’s First Three Marine Protected Areas!

Driven to protect endangered species and local fishers’ activity, the Republic of the Congo has created its first three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – with the intention of adding eight more in the near future.

“Today the Republic of the Congo has optimized its participation in international efforts to conserve the marine environment,” says Richard Malonga, Wildlife Conservatory Society (WCS) Country Director in Congo.

With the help of the University of Exeter, WCS, and local NGO Renatura, the three MPAs – a marine extension to Conkouati-Douli National Park, Loango MPA, and Mvassa MPA – are part of the country’s national Marine Spatial Plan. The total area covers 12% of Congo’s Exclusive Economic Zone, protecting more than 4,000 square kilometers off the West African coast, where leather turtles nest, and where marine mammals such as the Atlantic humpback whale migrate and breed. More than 40 species of sharks and rays call these MPAs home, including the open ocean whale shark which is the largest known extant fish. Congo follows in the footsteps of its neighboring country, Gabon, and the Ivory Coast.