Coastal ecosystem monitoring Cabo Verde

Lead Institute SF Institute of Sea Fisheries

Garoupa - ein beliebter Speisefisch (Cephalopholis taeniops) / Garoupa - one of Cabo Verde's favourite fish dishes

Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring in Cabo Verde - developing a blueprint for Large Ocean States

The management of marine natural resources in small island states - large ocean countries often poses certain challenges due to the extent of marine environment to be covered and the according logistics and infrastructure. Likewise, significant efforts are required to let policy makers and often remote communities fully participate in decision making processes. Data on the extent and dynamics of the natural resources as well as the notion of drivers of change are needed to understand ways to improve their state and utilization, to maintain and preserve vulnerable parts of the ecosystem and provide means for the local communities to improve their livelihoods.

Background and Objective

The project aims to foster knowledge-based sustainable development of the coastal zone and the marine environment of Cabo Verde. Through an intense co-design process local stakeholders and international experts will define requirements for such a monitoring program (capacity building). This will be validated through a dedicated pilot field survey that includes state-of-the-art technologies such as ship-, glider- and drone-based measurements and community-based observations including low-cost technologies (in combination with cellphones). Therefore, CEM_CV also puts emphasis on communicating obtained scientific results in an appropriate language back to the local stakeholders and up to the policymaker level, who were involved in the project co-design from the beginning on. Through this approach CEM_CV aims to set the cornerstone for a coastal ecosystem monitoring program that can be operated by local investigators and technicians on their own and thus contributes to capacity building at the individual and local level. It is envisaged to expand to other regions in Cabo Verde and beyond in a sustained way.

Target Group

Science, policy makers and the public

Approach

Work packages

Measure1 - Co-design of study

Measure 2 – Pilot study

Measure 3 – Analysis of utilization pattern and stakeholder groups and marine spatial planning

Measure 4 – Development of communitation platform and data exchange between stakeholder groups

Measure 5 - Training workshops for stakeholder groups, capacity development

Measure 6 - Development of a long-term perspective for coastal development

Our Research Questions

How can a blueprint for a science-based coastal ecosystem monitoring program be developed that suits the needs of local stakeholders and provides policymaker with valuable input for decision-making processes?
How can an active co-design approach involving relevant stakeholders and policymakers be implemented right from the beginning
How can capacity development be improved and sustained at stakeholder level, and how can university programmes and furthering institutional capacities be utilized ?