Senegal Advances Roadmap for Marine Protected Areas through National Consultative Workshop

Dakar, Senegal – April 17, 2025 — The Republic of Senegal successfully concluded a three-day National Consultative Workshop (15–17 April 2025) focused on the development of a comprehensive roadmap and governance guidelines for the country’s established Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The workshop, held in Dakar, was jointly organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of Senegal and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

The opening session featured remarks from key representatives, setting the tone for collaborative engagement.
Mr. Abdou Aziz Ndiaye, Deputy Director in charge of Marine Protected Areas, emphasized the national importance of MPAs, stating, “Our MPAs are more than zones of protection—they are vital assets for biodiversity conservation and the sustainable development of our communities. This roadmap will guide us toward more coherent and participatory governance.”
Mr. Philippe Ouedraogo, representing Dr Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, reaffirmed the continental dimension of the effort: “Senegal is setting an example for the region. The African Union, through AU-IBAR, is proud to support this process in the context of the Africa Blue Economy Strategy and the broader goal of conserving aquatic biodiversity across our shared waters.”
Dr. Namadou Goudiaby, Director of Cabinet in the Ministry of Fisheries and Infrastructures, representing the Minister, echoed the urgency for action: “Senegal’s leadership in aquatic biodiversity must be matched with effective governance structures and stakeholder inclusion. The Ministry is fully committed to ensuring the roadmap emerging from this workshop is implemented in full.”

Workshop Key Objectives and Themes
The workshop aimed to strengthen national capacity for MPA governance through:
•    Raising awareness on the role of MPAs in biodiversity conservation;
•    Identifying challenges and governance gaps;
•    Sharing lessons and best practices from across the West, Central, and North African regions;
•    Formulating a national roadmap and actionable guidelines for effective governance.

The meeting was part of the broader AU-IBAR-led initiative “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy,” a project funded by SIDA and designed to improve regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities in African Union Member States.

Technical Sessions and Working Groups
Participants, including representatives from key ministries, departments, civil society, youth, and private sector, engaged in technical plenaries and breakout working groups. Discussions revolved around:
•    Stakeholder analysis and legal frameworks;
•    Governance structures and the role of communities;
•    Identification of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs);
•    Development of a shared vision and national roadmap for MPA management.

One session, led by AU-IBAR’s aquatic biodiversity specialist Joel Mokenye, provided an overview of the continental project, followed by insights into the Africa Blue Economy Strategy from Dr. Mohamed Seisay. A pivotal moment was the presentation of findings from a regional study on existing MPAs, which offered a blueprint of lessons learned and underscored the urgent need to address governance gaps, particularly in areas of conflict resolution, management staffing, and legal coherence.

Outputs and Way Forward
By the end of the workshop, the stakeholders:
•    Validated a set of priority actions for MPA governance;
•    Agreed on institutional roles and coordination mechanisms;
•    Consolidated a draft roadmap and governance guidelines for national MPAs;
•    Proposed immediate steps for integrating the roadmap into national policy frameworks.

The final plenary concluded with a strong sense of ownership and collective responsibility, marking the workshop not as an endpoint but a critical milestone in Senegal’s marine conservation journey. The event concluded with closing remarks from AU-IBAR, ECOWAS, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, reiterating support for full implementation of the recommendations. As Senegal moves forward with its commitment to sustainable marine resource management, the outcomes of this national consultation offer a clear and participatory pathway for protecting one of its most valuable assets—its marine ecosystems

Photo1: Group photo of participants
Photo2: from left: Col. Abdou Aziz NDIAYE (Deputy Director in charge of marine protected areas); Dr. Namadou Goudiaby (Director of Cabinet in the ministry of Fisheries and infrastructures – rep. of the minister for fisheries) and Mr. Philippe Ouedraogo (representative of the Director of AU-IBAR).