Contributing to the WSSD targets on oceans and coasts in West and Central Africa: The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project
Ukwe, C.N.; Ibe, C.A.; Nwilo, P.C.; Huidobro, P.A. (2006). Contributing to the WSSD targets on oceans and coasts in West and Central Africa: The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project. IJOO 1(1): 21-44
In: International Journal of Oceans and Oceanography. Research India Publications: Delhi. ISSN 0973-2667; e-ISSN 0974-4827, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Ukwe, C.N.
- Ibe, C.A.
- Nwilo, P.C.
- Huidobro, P.A.
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| Abstract |
The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME) borders sixteen countries from Guinea Bissau to Angola in Western African and is the number 28 of the 64 globally delineated large marine ecosystems (LMEs). The GCLME embodies some of the major coastal upwelling sub-ecosystems of the world and is an important center of marine biodiversity and marine food production. Characterized by distinctive bathymetry, hydrography, productivity, and trophodynamics, the Guinea Current System represents a Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) ranked among the most productive coastal and offshore waters in the world with rich fishery resources, oil and gas reserves, precious minerals, a high potential for tourism and serves as an important reservoir of marine biological diversity of global significance. The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis documents the changing states of the Guinea Current ecosystem as a result of the unsustainable exploitation of the living marine resources and discharge of untreated municipal and industrial wastes. Through the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem project, priority management action areas identified by the countries in the preliminary Strategic Action Programmes (SAP) would be implemented enabling the i) recovery of depleted fish stocks, (ii) restoration of degraded habitats, and (iii) reduction of land and sea-based pollution. Project implementation will contribute to the achievement of the targets of World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for introducing ecosystem-based assessment and management practices by 2010, recovering depleted fish stocks to maximum sustainable yield levels by 2015, establishing a representative network of marine protected areas by 2012, and advancing reduction of Land-based Activities by 2006. |
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