Abidjan Convention Sustainable Seas Pilot Workshop

holders and ministries in the region. Lack of awareness on EbM is thus representing an impediment for EbM to be accepted and implemented as a mainstream concept for marine management at the national level. Other challenges are difficult interagency cooperation and coordination at the national level, and financial constraints to initiate implementation of EbM.

Challenges for implementation of EbM include: • Generating an understanding of the concept among policy and decision makers. • Awareness raising and training on the concept among stakeholders and politicians • Awareness raising on the concept at the national, sub-regional and regional level

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Liberia

Guinea Equatorial Mauritania

Sierra Leone

Cameroon

DR Congo

Guinea Bissau Guinea Angola

Sao Tomé & Principé Nigeria

Land conflicts in the coastal zone Lack of protection of MPAs Marine habitat degradation by offshore industries Marine habitat degradation by fisheries Fisheries conflicts (industrial versus traditional) Overharvesting of fish stocks Soil degradation Mangrove destruction

IUU fisheries Oil pollution

Pollution in general (incl. land based sources) Unplanned and illegal urban development Coastal zone erosion

Key concerns

Figure 6. Key concerns and pressures on the marine and coastal environment in the region, based upon information provided in the survey.

Liberia

Guinea Equatorial Mauritania

Sierra Leone

Cameroon

DR Congo

Guinea Bissau Guinea Angola

Sao Tomé & Principé Nigeria

Financial means Equipment for monitoring Capacity of the government for sustainable management Lack of awareness on EbM among policy makers Lack of legislation/marine policy framework Co-management, involvement of stakeholders Management of unplanned urban development Implementation of sustainable management practices Enforcement of marine environmental legislations Monitoring and surveillance Marine pollution control and enforcement Climate change effects Biodiversity loss Habitat restoration

Resources for EbM

Government capacity

Legal framework

External, long term challenges

Key challenges to address

Figure 7. Key challenges for implementation of Ecosystem-based Management based upon information provided in the survey.