{"id":31002,"date":"2023-12-14T12:11:36","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T12:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=31002"},"modified":"2024-01-25T09:24:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T09:24:04","slug":"renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#8217;s first marine protected area"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The writers of this blog are part of <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/renatura.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Renatura Congo<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This exchange journey was made possible through co-funding by <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rainforesttrust.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rainforest Trust<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/what-we-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blue Ventures<\/a>, aligning with Renatura Congo&#8217;s strategic plan for networking and knowledge-sharing on community-led marine protected areas (MPAs). Senegal is a prime example, boasting over a decade of experience in diverse MPA setups, highlighting successful transitions from MPAs to Community Marine Protected Areas (CMPAs) and natural reserves to CMPAs. The shared context enhances the value of collaborative efforts in pursuing sustainable marine conservation.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In October, our <a href=\"https:\/\/renatura.org\/\">Renatura Congo<\/a> team, accompanied by government and community association representatives, went on a learning trip from Congo-Brazzaville to Senegal. The goal was to learn from successful community marine protected areas and lay the foundation for the Loango Bay Community Marine Reserve, Congo&#8217;s first-ever marine protected area (MPA).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-31074 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-745x419.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"419\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-745x419.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-635x357.jpg 635w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-2000x1125.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-1300x731.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_113200-scaled.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 745px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 745\/419;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not minding the scorching heat on the first day, we explored the Somone MPA with Lieutenant Khatab DIOP as our guide. We went on foot, took canoe tours to see Bird Island and mangroves, and engaged with local stakeholders. A visit to the oyster women&#8217;s restaurant showed us how the MPA supports economic activities in its community. We got to see the commitment of local communities and how tourism, business, and conservation work hand in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31056 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-644x483.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"559\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-644x483.jpg 644w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-476x357.jpg 476w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-1300x975.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2288-scaled.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 745px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 745\/559;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also met with the Somone MPA management committee, explored the premises funded by tourism, and met key figures, including the President of the committee, representatives of economic interest groups, state agents, and more. We learnt that the collaboration of the entire community, driven by voluntary commitments, didn&#8217;t happen overnight. It took time to raise awareness, but now all stakeholders recognise the mutual benefits of their involvement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31092 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-745x419.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"419\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-745x419.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-635x357.jpg 635w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-2000x1125.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-1300x731.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231016_124429-scaled.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 745px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 745\/419;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next stop on our trip was the vast Palmarin Community Reserve, characterised by diverse landscapes such as lagoons, savannahs, salt marshes, coast, and mangroves, starkly contrasting the previous locations. Unlike marine protected areas, Palmarin is a community reserve established through municipal deliberation. The discussions with the team there highlighted the importance of legitimacy and legality. Legitimacy comes from local communities deciding on the reserve&#8217;s creation, while the enforcing of regulations by government agents creates legality, a bottom-up approach in Senegal different from the historical top-down methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31080 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-745x419.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"419\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-745x419.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-635x357.jpg 635w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-2000x1125.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-1300x731.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231015_122927-scaled.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 745px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 745\/419;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The day concluded with a horse-drawn carriage excursion through the reserve at sunset to see the spotted hyenas, and it was truly incredible! A small group of these fascinating creatures lives in the reserve, emerging from the mangroves at dusk. The encounter with the large carnivores in their natural environment was impressive, and the landscape added to the moment&#8217;s magic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next day, we visited one of Senegal&#8217;s earliest MPAs, Joal Fadiouth. It encompasses 174 square kilometres and includes the country&#8217;s largest artisanal fishing port. Commander Diba and President Abdou Karim Sall shared insights into the MPA&#8217;s challenges and successes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31098 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-745x419.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"419\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-745x419.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-635x357.jpg 635w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-2000x1125.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-1300x731.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_20231017_133947-scaled.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 745px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 745\/419;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The MPA has created strict rules prohibiting fishing nearshore and regulates subsequent areas with the exception of industrial fishing. The MPA members stressed the crucial role of awareness and communication to gain fishermen&#8217;s support. This support relies on community leaders&#8217; commitment to protect resources untainted by economic interests, especially in the initial years of MPA creation, where means may be limited.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the afternoon, we visited groups of women engaged in various income-generating activities such as producing biochar from straw and clay, beekeeping, oyster farming, and processing seafood products. These initiatives empower women to generate substantial income, fostering economic independence while aligning with the goals of preserving the MPA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31032 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-scaled.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-476x357.jpg 476w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-644x483.jpg 644w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-1300x975.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2465-300x225.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, we had started piecing together that the heart of Marine MPAs is the active involvement of communities and their leaders. They&#8217;re the ones who decide to create the MPA and set the rules, working together in the management committee with all the local stakeholders. The government adds legitimacy to the MPA, enforces rules, and joins the management committee. Making MPAs successful is a gradual process, demanding significant effort. We also realised how crucial awareness and communication are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The role of women stood out, especially in Somone, where they lead efforts to restore the damaged mangrove through community projects. Women play a vital part in supporting income-generating activities in economic interest groups. Additionally, creating a reserve starts with noticing significant environmental degradation each time, showing the community&#8217;s interest in protecting their resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31038 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-16-a-16.47.22_93722d55.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"958\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-16-a-16.47.22_93722d55.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-16-a-16.47.22_93722d55-477x357.jpg 477w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-16-a-16.47.22_93722d55-645x483.jpg 645w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-16-a-16.47.22_93722d55-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-16-a-16.47.22_93722d55-300x225.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/958;\" \/>The trip ended on Gor\u00e9e Island, adding a historical touch. We met with Staff Sergeant Omar Ndayane from the Gor\u00e9e MPA, who stressed the importance of being on the ground, responsive, and involving the community.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-31014 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-scaled.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-476x357.jpg 476w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-644x483.jpg 644w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-1300x975.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/IMG_2399-300x225.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This exchange left a mark on our team, reminding us of how vital community involvement, flexible governance, and balancing rules and community support are for successful MPAs. We have a lot of gratitude to Blue Ventures and Rainforest Trust for this eye-opening experience that will shape the future of the Loango Bay Community Marine Reserve. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we headed home, we were loaded with knowledge, inspiration, and gratitude, ready to kick off the journey of supporting local communities and securing the sustainable future of Loango Bay. The stage is set, the actors are ready, and the conservation show goes on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This exchange journey was made possible through co-funding by Rainforest Trust and Blue Ventures, aligning with Renatura Congo&#8217;s strategic plan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":31122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1181,1222,1211],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-senegal","category-west-africa"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#039;s first marine protected area - Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#039;s first marine protected area - Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-14T12:11:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-25T09:24:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1198\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Blue Ventures\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@blueventures\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@blueventures\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Blue Ventures\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Blue Ventures\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/37e0594a6815a165adb4ae8819d79d5c\"},\"headline\":\"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#8217;s first marine protected area\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-14T12:11:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-25T09:24:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":884,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/media\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Africa\",\"Senegal\",\"West Africa\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/\",\"name\":\"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo's first marine protected area - Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/media\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-14T12:11:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-25T09:24:04+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/37e0594a6815a165adb4ae8819d79d5c\"},\"description\":\"The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/media\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/media\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1198,\"caption\":\"Kafountine landing site, 25 May 2023. Photo by Garth Cripps\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#8217;s first marine protected area\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog\",\"description\":\"Voices from the front line of marine conversation\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/37e0594a6815a165adb4ae8819d79d5c\",\"name\":\"Blue Ventures\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/99072653ed4e1f204616d77356585e0f411fa627415743152caeb90fceef3bf1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/99072653ed4e1f204616d77356585e0f411fa627415743152caeb90fceef3bf1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/99072653ed4e1f204616d77356585e0f411fa627415743152caeb90fceef3bf1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Blue Ventures\"},\"description\":\"Blue Ventures is an award winning marine conservation charity. We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities. On our Beyond Conservation blog you can hear voices from the front line of marine conservation written by our staff and volunteers.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueventures.org\",\"http:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/beyondconservation\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/author\\\/bv\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo's first marine protected area - Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog","description":"The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo's first marine protected area - Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog","og_description":"The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/","og_site_name":"Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog","article_published_time":"2023-12-14T12:11:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-01-25T09:24:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1198,"url":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Blue Ventures","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@blueventures","twitter_site":"@blueventures","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Blue Ventures","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/"},"author":{"name":"Blue Ventures","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/37e0594a6815a165adb4ae8819d79d5c"},"headline":"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#8217;s first marine protected area","datePublished":"2023-12-14T12:11:36+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-25T09:24:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/"},"wordCount":884,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Africa","Senegal","West Africa"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/","name":"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo's first marine protected area - Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2023-12-14T12:11:36+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-25T09:24:04+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/37e0594a6815a165adb4ae8819d79d5c"},"description":"The writers of this blog are part of Renatura Congo, an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable development through biodiversity conservation. This","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2023\/12\/Kafountine-landing-site-Garth-Cripps-23525_094235-scaled.jpg","width":1600,"height":1198,"caption":"Kafountine landing site, 25 May 2023. Photo by Garth Cripps"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/renatura-congos-learning-visit-to-mpas-in-senegal-to-pave-the-way-for-congos-first-marine-protected-area\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Learning from successful MPAs in Senegal to pave the way for Congo&#8217;s first marine protected area"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/","name":"Blue Ventures - Beyond Conservation blog","description":"Voices from the front line of marine conversation","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/37e0594a6815a165adb4ae8819d79d5c","name":"Blue Ventures","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99072653ed4e1f204616d77356585e0f411fa627415743152caeb90fceef3bf1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99072653ed4e1f204616d77356585e0f411fa627415743152caeb90fceef3bf1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99072653ed4e1f204616d77356585e0f411fa627415743152caeb90fceef3bf1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Blue Ventures"},"description":"Blue Ventures is an award winning marine conservation charity. We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities. On our Beyond Conservation blog you can hear voices from the front line of marine conservation written by our staff and volunteers.","sameAs":["https:\/\/blueventures.org","http:\/\/instagram.com\/beyondconservation"],"url":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/author\/bv\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}