Overview

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of marine pollution and the consequences of   bycatch, the two major threats affecting the genetic diversity and species’ population structure of shark and ray populations along the Cameroon coastline. Spanning approximately 402km along the Atlantic, Cameroon coastline is a nursery for sharks and rays. Although bycaught at a rate of 13% along this coastline and classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List globally, no study on shark bycatch and potential chemical contaminants of concern have been conducted except for anecdotal information based on sightings made at small-scale fisheries market.

While encounters with sharks are rare, they are regarded as a delicacy by coastal communities. Approximately 96.6% of sharks are consumed fresh or dried, leading to over-exploitation, as fishermen rely on seafood for both protein and income.

Fishers deploy nonregulated cotton nets in the region, which end up entangling these species. Bycatch and pollution have emerged as major concerns impacting shark populations. Our study aims to provide the first comprehensive scientific data on bycatch hotspot (proxy to feeding site, breeding ground, etc.), targeted analysis of persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) bioconcentration in the sharks’ livers, and threats relevant to overfishing of sharks and rays in Cameroon. This information will be used to map bycatch areas and improve awareness on the conservation of sharks in Cameroon.

Aims

− Evaluate the ecological risk assessment of POPs on shark and ray populations via tissue-specific (liver) targeted analysis of 153 primary POPs, focusing on the Cameroon coastline bycatch.

− Quantify the individual genetic variation of bycatch incidents of sharks and rays in the region using exon probe sequencing.

− Develop evidence-based conservation strategies to mitigate the effects of pollutants and bycatch, aiming to ensure the long-term survival and genetic health of these species in along the Cameroon coastal area.

By integrating genetic analyses, chemical pollutant assessments, and conservation strategies, the project seeks to enhance our understanding of the threats faced by these marine species and recommend sustainable conservation measures to protect their effective population size and genetic diversity.

*For more about this project, contact goran@bozinstitute.org