Newsletter on Alcyon programme activities

We couldn’t ask for a better network of actors Second half of 2019 for a revolution on marine conservation 2019 has been a year of gathering momentum and remarkable achievements, bycatch risk maps for the whole West Africa. Tremendous efforts have but also of rescoping and reflection on perspectives for sustainability of been made in assessing bycatch through fishers knowledge with nearly our realizations. We have continued our journey to champion a revolution 450 fishermen interviewed in 4 countries, a target of 800 questionnaires on conservation in Cabo Verde, to strengthen the capacity of is aimed, a first paper will be published shortly on the same. With the our national network of observers for seabird and turtles bycatch data breakthrough on the advocacy component of the project, and collection and to leverage our impacts in coastal seabird conservation in turtles bycatch has become an unavoidable subject for political decision- West Africa. makers and fisheries managers both in West Africa and with European Union partners. This has resulted in the integration of the seabirds and Truly, there is a revolution on seabird conservation in Cabo Verde that turtles bycatch dimension in the agreement under negotiation between we are celebrating ! BirdLife congratulates all direct partners of our Senegal and the European Union. Cabo Verde seabirds project, namely DNA, SPEA, University of Barcelona, Biosfera I and Projeto Vitó for their hard work on ground and confess In our effort to create a young generation of seabirds conservationists, their contribution to the brilliant success we have collectively achieved. we are preparing a Conservation Biology and Ornithological Master and Indeed, we are proud about the discovery of an important number of a Massive Open Online Courses for West African Universities, students new seabird colonies for most of the breeding species (including red- and PAs staffs. A Manual on the courses will be available in Portuguese, billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), Audubon’s (Puffinus French and English with a training will be provided to local Teachers lherminieri), Bulwer’s (Bulweria bulwerii), the endemic to allow them to carry on the courses after the first round. Also, storm-petrel (Hydrobates jabejabe), brown booby (Sula leucogaster), the negotiations are underway to make sure that Master degree courses are endemic Cape Verde shearwater ( edwardsii), and the endemic now integrated in the curriculum of the University of Guinea Bissau. A total Cape Verde petrel/gongon (Pterodroma feae)) in Santo Antão, São Vicente, of 4PhD, 12 MSc and 3 BSc students are doing their studies on various Santa Luzia, Raso, São Nicolau, Sal, Boavista, the islets of Maio, Fogo, Brava subjects related to marine conservation under Alcyon programme. We and the islets of Rombo. For the first time, some unknown seabird species want to send out a heartfelt thanks to all our partners. We believe that were also found on land in Cabo Verde raising some questions about their together we can help turn the tide ! breeding status. The first overlap maps between fisheries hotspots and Justine Dossa seabirds distribution are being prepared and will be used to complete the West Africa Marine Programme Coordinator BirdLife International Marine Programme BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat

Field trip to the Bijagos during the ecotourism training (© BirdLife)

The Alcyon programme, mainly funded by the MAVA Foundation, aims to contribute to the conservation of seabirds and marine and coastal biodiversity in West Africa Promoting the conservation of Cabo Verde seabirds The year 2019 was the last year of the phase 1 of our Cabo Verde seabirds project. The project brilliantly passed the mid-term evaluation organised by MAVA to assess progress of phase 1 and the development of the second phase is now completed with a Full Project Proposal submitted to MAVA for the second phase that is expected to start during first quarter of 2020. During this last year of the project, the partnership continues building on the enthusiastic dynamic on monitoring, research and conservation. There is a special effort in Inauguration of the Cabo Verdie seabirds Interpretation Centre ‘Funco Gongon’ discovering of new colonies in all islands. (traditional lava houses) in Chã das Caldeiras, Fogo island (© Projecto Vito) Census of Bulwer’s petrel and White-faced Storm-petrel (Pelagodroma marina) colonies are underway at Sal and Maio islets. New breeding areas of the endemic Cabo Verde petrel/gongon continue to be discovered at Fogo, S. Nicolau and Santo Antão; and at Brava colonies of brown boobies were rediscovered. For the first time, some unknown seabird species were also found on land in Cabo Verde in particular the Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) in Santo Antão and the Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel (Hydrobates monorhis) in ilhéu de Cima (Rombo islets). Maps showing location & relative abundance of breeding seabirds are being finished and will be published shortly in international journals. A special effort was made in awareness raising, for instance, representations of all the seabird species of Cabo Verde were Awareness raising on seabird conservation in primary school in Santiago presented in the Carnival of Mindelo held in March 2019. The seabirds Island (© DNA&Projecto Vito) interpretation centre ‘Funco Gongon’ (traditional lava houses) in Chã In order to create widespread interest in seabirds and habitat das Caldeiras (Fogo island) is now operationalised’. Six episodes of the conservation, an institutional visit was organized to Baía do Inferno TV show ‘Ecostar’ were produced and broadcast in the national TV. and to the community of Porto Mosquito (Santiago island). This initiative The show aimed to promote the efforts of seabirds conservation involved representatives of national institutions and the US Embassy carried out by the project partners with the support of public in Cabo Verde, who were available to develop partnerships for the figures of Caboverdean society. Also, the prospection of the Red-billed purpose of seabird conservation in Cabo Verde. The Minister of Tropicbird (Phaeton aethereus) and Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) Tourism, Transport and Maritime Economy has also visited the Rombos breeding areas through a boat trip around Santiago Island was islets. This year, 2 Master students defended their dissertation at the broadcasted in the national TV. University of Barcelona. Want to know more? Please contact Ana Veiga, at [email protected]

Schoolchildren mobilized on the streets of São Filipe, Fogo island to raise awa- reness on seabird conservation in Cabo Verde (© Projecto Vito) Conservation of coastal seabirds along the West African coast 2019 was also the last year of this project that aims at conserving West Africa’s impressive colonies of terns and gulls, in partnership with a number of national NGOs and Governmental and research institutes. This year, tremendous efforts were made to fast track the project activities and make a difference in terms of achievements. Building capacity for a better management of coastal seabird colonies and their key sites in West Africa was a key focus of the year, in that sense, BirdLife International has brought together some 30 participants for a training on the monitoring protocol Field trip to the Bijagos, Guinea Bissau during the ecotourism training (©BirdLife) and data analysis of seabird populations. The partners benefiting from this training came from the institutions responsible for PAs that host the large seabird colonies in West Africa, namely PNDS, PNLB, ROK in Senegal, PNBA in Mauritania and Bijagos and Jeta in Guinea Bissau. In addition, some partners of NGOs collaborating with BirdLife namely ODZH, Nature Mauritanie, NCD and Nébéday and the 6 Master and Bachelors levels students who are developing their thesis on the project’s thematic are among the beneficiaries of this training. A very insightful report was produced after 3 years research on the impact of coastal erosion on the colonial seabird breeding sites in the whole West African sub region. A training was organised on the development of eco-tourism by Participants of the training on the monitoring protocol, seabird popula- tions data analysis and development of management plans (© BirdLife) birdwatching in coastal areas in West Africa, in Bubaque (Guinea Bissau). This training gathered 27 participants from the Support Groups of the Site (GSS) of Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea Bissau, The training also included a visit to the villages of Indena (Canhabaque the representatives of the PAs and one participant from Gambia. Island) and Bijante (Bubaque Island) to show the economical benefits Participants were capacitated on ecotourism development in order of involving local communities in ecotourism in particular the role of to set up responsible ecotourism initiatives for each site and a sub- selling local culture. regional network of birdwatchers.. The training was very dynamic with practical field sessions on birdwatching and identification, Want to know more? the best practices in tour guiding with emphasis on why and how to Please contact Ngone Diop at [email protected]. avoid disturbance in the breeding colonies.

Raising awareness for seabirds conservation during the celebration of the 59th anniversary of the independence of Mauritania (© PNBA) Minimising bycatch of seabirds and turtles in industrial fisheries This year, we’ve tried to rescope the project activities to allow more impacts of the results. Massive progress was made to catch up on the implementation of some activities and to make sure that the project is on track. This project also passed successfully the MTE organised by MAVA Foundation to access progress of phase 1 and start the development of the phase 2. A project concept has been submitted for the second phase. A massive effort was made on training observers for seabirds and turtles bycatch data collection. In total 39 have received the training and most of them are now collecting data onboard industrial fisheries. A network of observers on the collection of data on seabirds and turtles bycatch Bycatch Instructor conducting an interview with fishermen in Mindelo harbour, is established and operational. A total of 7 students including 2 PhD Cabo Verde (© BirdLife), and 5 Master’s students have started their thesis on the thematic. In general, the project benefits from a good visibility within industrial fisheries sector. The key fisheries hotspots by type of fishing, both at national and regional level are established. Thus, the overlap analysis between fishing activities and seabirds and turtles important areas is underway and will be able to guide conservation measures for these two species in terms of bycatch reduction. The state of the art of legislation both at national and international level concerning the management of the bycatch of and sea turtles is finalized. This will allow the further development of a roadmap for mitigation measures at both national and regional level. On the other hand, in partnership with BirdLife Europe Central Asia, a training course in Negotiation was delivered to senior fisheries executives from the 7 countries and the Permanent Secretariat of the SRFC. The 17 Trainer discussing with Senior Fisheries Official during the training on influen- cing and negociation skills with focus on fisheries pargreements (© BiirdLife) trainees were introduced to different influencing and negotiation skills, with a particular focus on fisheries partnership agreements.

Upcoming events

25-28 March 2020, Guinea Bissau:10th edition of the Regional Coastal and Marine Forum under the theme “Healthy oceans: an issue of sustainable development for West African coastal countries”.

11-19 June 2020, Marseille, France: IUCN World Conservation Congress with massive participation of the marine and coastal conservation actors from West Africa

For more information :

Justine Dossa West Africa Marine Programme Coordinator [email protected]

www.birdlife.org