The Wildlife Conservation Society with the support of the Waitt Foundation has proposed the creation of a network of marine protected areas covering 23% of the territorial seas along the coastline of Gabon. The waters of this region are extremely productive, with a high concentration of large marine animals including whales, dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles. Currently the Congo Basin Coast is largely unprotected, and faces new threats from coastal development, unregulated overfishing, and expanding oil and gas extraction. This planned network of marine parks through the existing park and creation of new ones will include a variety of ecosystems: lagunas, estuaries,coastal waters, canyons and high seas.

More Information:

A Massive New Marine Protected Area Network in Gabon (12 Nov 2014) Wildlife Conservation Society

WCS 2010 report on Congo Basin Coast: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/~/media/Files/prospectuses/CongoBasinCoast_Prospectus2010_101810.pdf

WCS – Congo Basin Coast Seascape: http://www.wcs.org/saving-wild-places/ocean/congo-basin-coast-seascape.aspx

Waitt Foundation – no-take area project in Gabon: http://waittfoundation.org/gabon-no-take-expansion