Biodiversity and Status of Cetaceans in Benin, West Africa: an Initial Assessment

No published literature is available on the whales and dolphins of Benin. A first insight in the cetacean biodiversity based on stranding, capture and sighting records, as well as a preliminary assessment of status, is provided. Seven species were authenticated: humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis, false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens, shortfinned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus, Cuvier’s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris and sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus. Two additional taxa were confirmed at genus level, i.e. common dolphin Delphinus sp. and minke whale Balaenoptera sp. All reported species also occur in Ghana or Togo. Concern is expressed that in Benin, as in some other western African nations, coastal communities increasingly exploit stranded and by-caught cetaceans to supply a thriving, albeit illegal, marine bushmeat trade. Small cetaceans were also taken intentionally in the absence of efficient controls of landings or other management measures. Although presently at subsistence scale, the threat of wider commercialization exists. In view of the limited number of validated species, voucher specimens and scarce biological baseline information, opportunistic sampling must be expanded to include more systematic and dedicated research, in particular, ship-based marine mammal surveys. It is recommended that graduate students at Benin’s universities play a central role

Synthese Bibliographique Sur Les Technologies De Maitrise De L’eau Pour Les Cultures Dans Les Zones Humides Tropicales

Water management for agriculture is a worry in the world. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on water control’s technologies for the crops in wetlands. Comparison research work carried out on different irrigation systems revealed that drip irrigation can lead to 28-35% of water saving in relation to irrigation surface technic. Surface irrigation offers higher yield in relation to drip irrigation. It’s necessary to improve knowledge and local communities’ technics on different water control technologies in order to provide irrigation’s functions in developing countries. Research efforts on three important concepts are necessary such as : (i) local communities perceptions on crops water need and the responses of differents crops technologies on crops yield ; (ii) interactions between agricultures prospects, water controls innvations and economics benefits of theses technologies

Legal Report on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Benin : An Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Selected National Policy and Legal Instruments of Benin

Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others. To assess how an EAF is being implemented through national policy and legal frameworks, FAO developed A diagnostic tool for implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries through national policy and legal frameworks. The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Benin with an EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for an EAF, are reflected in Benin 's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs). Based on this preliminary diagnosis, gaps were identified in the assessed instruments, and recommendations were made for improving the implementation of an EAF. This report was elaborated following a participatory approach with the involvement of the national competent authorities of Benin. Drafted in July 2021, the report was submitted to the national authorities of Benin in October 2021. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Benin reviewed and endorsed this EAF Legal Repot of Benin in July 2022

OPENMODS 2.0 “Instrument Jamming Meeting” report

Major achievements The feedback provided by potential users on their needs was very much appreciated. They underlined the importance of having: ● an easy to deploy instrument (i.e.: from small fishing boats); ● multi-parameter sensors in ONE device; ● less maintenance effort and prioritized the variables to measure. Although, there are technical limitations and different solutions and there is no one tool that can do everything, which is low cost, has high resolution and low maintenance, the outcomes of the platforms/sensors/communications working group meet the main requirements that emerged. Priority was given to: ● a platform that will operate in drifter mode which is extremely easy to deploy and perfect for studies associated with search and rescue operations (another need that has emerged). It also constantly guarantees the knowledge of the instrument position. The platform can be easily converted into the moored mode. ● temperature and pressure sensors. The sensors will be low -cost with the idea to replace them rather than calibrate them; ● LoRaWAN communications preferably with Bluetooth integration for the in-situ download of the data

Impact of the citizen science project COLLECT on ocean literacy and well-being within a north/west African and south-east Asian context

Plastic pollution is both a societal and environmental problem and citizen science has shown to be a useful tool to engage both the public and professionals in addressing it. However, knowledge on the educational and behavioral impacts of citizen science projects focusing on marine litter remains limited. Our preregistered study investigates the impact of the citizen science project Citizen Observation of Local Litter in coastal ECosysTems (COLLECT) on the participants' ocean literacy, pro-environmental intentions and attitudes, well-being, and nature connectedness, using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 410 secondary school students from seven countries, in Africa (Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria) and Asia (Malaysia) were trained to sample plastics on sandy beaches and to analyze their collection in the classroom. Non-parametric statistical tests (n = 239 matched participants) demonstrate that the COLLECT project positively impacted ocean literacy (i.e., awareness and knowledge of marine litter, self-reported litter-reducing behaviors, attitudes towards beach litter removal). The COLLECT project also led to higher pro-environmental behavioral intentions for students in Benin and Ghana (implying a positive spillover effect) and higher well-being and nature connectedness for students in Benin. Results are interpreted in consideration of a high baseline in awareness and attitudes towards marine litter, a low internal consistency of pro-environmental attitudes, the cultural context of the participating countries, and the unique settings of the project's implementation. Our study highlights the benefits and challenges of understanding how citizen science impacts the perceptions and behaviors towards marine litter in youth from the respective regions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Utilization of Aquatic Bushmeat from Small Cetaceans and Manatees in South America and West Africa

Aquatic bushmeat can be defined as the products derived from wild aquatic megafauna (e.g., marine mammals) that are used for human consumption and non-food purposes, including traditional medicine. It is obtained through illegal or unregulated hunts as well as from stranded (dead or alive) and bycaught animals. In most South American and West African countries aquatic mammals are or have been taken for bushmeat, including 33 small cetaceans and all three manatee species. Of these, two cetacean species are listed in the IUCN red list as “near threatened,” and one as “vulnerable,” as are all manatee species. Additionally, 22 cetacean species are listed as “data deficient,” hence some of these species may also be at risk. No reports (recent or otherwise) were found for some countries, caution is needed in concluding that aquatic bushmeat is not utilized in these nations. Moreover, although aquatic bushmeat is mostly obtained opportunistically and was likely originally taken only for local consumption, directed catches occur in most countries and may have reached unsustainable levels in some areas. For example, in Peru and Nigeria, thousands of small cetaceans are illegally hunted annually. Reliable, recent data and a better overall understanding of the drivers of aquatic bushmeat will be essential in the development of effective mitigation measures

Les strategies pour l’enseignement superieur

Aujourd’hui, la pression de la demande sociale d’enseignement supérieur est plutôt pour certains « un bon augure » pour l’avenir. Cette demande, mal comprise, tend à modifier le paysage du financement des universités en Afrique noire comme au Togo. Au sujet des modalités du financement des établissements d’enseignement supérieur, elles peuvent être multiples : investissements propres ; subventions des pouvoirs publics et avantages fiscaux ; crédits publics ; combinaison de subventions publiques ; et ventesde services. Les stratégies universitaires doivent prendre en compte, le double enjeu d’encourager la demande sociale pour ce type d’enseignement et l’efficacité de la formation universitaire qui doit contribuer au maintien des systèmes éducatifs et au développement économique. L’Université d’aujourd’hui est appelée à devenir une entreprise ouverte à son environnement et pour maîtriser son financement doit pouvoir se battre et marchander en vue de disposer des ressources substantielle. The intensive social demand of the higher education according to some people today, is “oracle” for the future. This demand not being well understood brings changes into the financing of Universities in black Africa countries such as Togo. The methods of financing higher education schools are multiple: good investments; public allowances and fiscal benefit grant; public credit; combination of public allowances and sales of services. The University strategies for this type of education, must take into account the encouragement of social demand and university training effectiveness, to contribute to the maintaining of education system and economic development. Today’s University is called to become an open enterprise and a maker of merchandizing efforts to its financing environment in order to gain substantial resources

Presence de la crevette tigree, Penaeus monodon (fabricius, 1798) (crustacea, penaeidae) dans les eaux maritimes beninoises

Des crevettes géantes tigrées, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) ont été capturées dans les eaux béninoises (Golfe de Guinée). Ces captures ont eu lieu sur le plateau continental, aux embouchures et dans les différents plans d'eau intérieurs du Bénin. Elles sont atypiques car P. monodon est seulement citée dans l'océan Indien et le Pacifique. Elles s'expliquent donc par le fait que des spécimens se sont déplacés certainement depuis les stations aquacoles situées au sud du Sénégal et en Gambie. La capturede cette espèce dans les eaux béninoises relève d'un phénomène que nous proposons d'analyser et de discuter après avoir présenté nos observations sur les crevettes géantes tigrées. L'espèce s'est probablement acclimatée depuis quelques années dans la région en dépit d'une possible compétition avec l'espèce autochtone. Farfantepenaeus notialis (Pérez Farfante 1967) qui habite les mêmes biotopes. Un suivi régulier et approfondi des différentes espèces est nécessaire dans un avenir proche

Peche a la senne de plage au Benin et durabilite des ressources halieutiques

La senne de plage est un engin de pêche non sélectif, muni de poche qui, après l’encerclement des aires marines fait l’objet de halage à terre pendant des heures. Elle est généralement utilisée dans des eaux peu profondes à proximité du rivage. Un sondage a été réalisé au niveau des douze campements ciblés pour étudier les espèces régulièrement rencontrées, les périodes de pêche, les espèces en disparition en vue de comparer les rendements actuels avec les tailles des captures à ceux des années antérieures. Au total, 175 acteurs (propriétaires de filets, pêcheurs et mareyeuses) ont été enquêtés. La longueur totale de toutes les espèces  dominantes a été mesurée de façon discontinue de juin 2011 à mars 2013. Les espèces débarquées sont constituées d’une diversité de poissons de tailles variées avec une proportion élevée de juvéniles. Aussi, la senne de plage détruit-elle les habitats des poissons côtiers, les nurseries et les aires de recrutement (Kebe M. et al., 1997, Beurier J. P. et Keïta R., 1982). Les juvéniles  dominantes des captures sont, entre autres, le Musso africain (Selene dorsalis), l’Alose (Ilisha  africana), le Sapater (Chloroscombrus chrysurus), la Sardinelle ronde (Sardinella maderensis), l’Ethmalose d’Afrique (Ethmalosa fimbriata), la Bécume   guachanche (Sphyraena guachancho), l’Otholithe sénégalais (Pseudotolithus senegalensis), le Poisson sabre commun (Trichiurus lepturus), l’Anchois (Engraulis encrasicolus) et la crevette rose (Farfantepenaeus notialis). La pêche massive de juvéniles a conduit inévitablement au ralentissement du recrutement dans le   stock ; ce qui entraine la modification dans le temps de la pyramide des âges avec gonflement des classes jeunes et tassement des classes âgés et la diminution des rendements de pêche. La surexploitation des ressources enferme davantage le pêcheur artisan dans un cercle vicieux de la pauvreté (CRHOB 2004, Hounsounou L. C., 2011).Mots clés : Senne de plage, poissons juvéniles, campements, pêcheurs artisans