Marine Protected Areas

This book examines the effectiveness of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) as a tool for restoring marine resources and managing fish stocks in the tropical region of West Africa. The study covers three MPAs. The first is the Bamboung MPA, located in an estuarine zone (under marine influence) within a delta and closed to fishing since 2004. The second MPA is the Urok Islands MPA, established in 2005 and located within the Bijagos Archipelago Biosphere Reserve on the coast of Guinea-Bissau. It is divided into three zones, and fishing is permitted there, with fishing pressure increasing from the central zone toward the peripheral zone. The third MPA is the Banc d'Arguin National Park, located along the Mauritanian coast. It was established in 1976, and fishing activities there are conducted in a regulated manner. Many MPAs have been evaluated worldwide, and the results obtained are positive in the majority of cases.