The nation of São Tomé and Príncipe consists of the two major islands of São Tomé and Príncipe along with several smaller islands. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gabon.
The Gulf of Guinea used to be dangerous waters for whales. The area was subjected to heavy whaling from the 18th to the 20th century, with commercial whaling only banned in 1959. Since the ban, not much in the way of environmental policy has been passed. 1999 saw the first official environmental legislation passed by São Tomé and Príncipe, but it painted in very large strokes and was largely vague. In 2001, a law regulating the use of marine resources (i.e. fishing) and in 2003 a law was passed to regulate petroleum. However, since then, the country’s environmental policy has not been updated, although the Obo National Park was established.
To date, there are no marine protected areas established in the country, despite the island and its waters being important habitat to many species. Humpback whales use these calm, warm waters as a nursery for their calves and spotted and bottlenose dolphins alike call these waters home.
Seven other cetacean species also use this marine habitat and, through assisting our partners on Sao Tome island, we aim to help in protecting it for generations to come.
The Gulf of Guinea used to be dangerous waters for whales. The area was subjected to heavy whaling from the 18th to the 20th century, with commercial whaling only banned in 1959. Since the ban, not much in the way of environmental policy has been passed. 1999 saw the first official environmental legislation passed by São Tomé and Príncipe, but it painted in very large strokes and was largely vague. In 2001, a law regulating the use of marine resources (i.e. fishing) and in 2003 a law was passed to regulate petroleum. However, since then, the country’s environmental policy has not been updated, although the Obo National Park was established.
To date, there are no marine protected areas established in the country, despite the island and its waters being important habitat to many species. Humpback whales use these calm, warm waters as a nursery for their calves and spotted and bottlenose dolphins alike call these waters home.
Seven other cetacean species also use this marine habitat and, through assisting our partners on Sao Tome island, we aim to help in protecting it for generations to come.
Project Overview
There are numerous goals that we wish to achieve on this incredibly important programme:
This project aims to provide further insight into the suggested overlap between the North Atlantic humpback whale population and the Antarctic sub-stock B1. By analyzing photo ID as well as breeding song similarity or dissimilarity, we aim to provide a more complete understanding of the proposed interaction of these populations.
This study also aims to provide the first complete breeding song description for Antarctic sub-stock B1, facilitating cross-comparisons to other populations, such as the Cape Verde Island population.
Through the use of citizen science aboard whale watching vessels, this project also aims to generate local wealth through the use of eco-tourism. We propose to disseminate responsible whale watching guidelines to ensure the safety and comfort of the animals in this proposed nursing ground.
This project further aims to provide recommendations to the government regarding marine policy. By utilising geographic data on humpback prevalence, we aim to assist in developing the country’s first marine protected area for this important breeding habitat. Currently, very few laws are in place to regulate interactions with any cetaceans in São Tomé waters.
We hope to not only help in establishing the country’s first marine protected area, but to help with the creation of a body of legislature designed to further protect the cetaceans and regulate any research or ecotourism, as per their Environmental Goals for 2015-2020.
- To provide the first description of the breeding song for sub-stock B1 in São Tomé
- To create and maintain a catalogue of the humpbacks that visit São Tomé waters through combined efforts from citizen science initiatives and scientific surveys
- To analyze both photo ID and acoustic data to provide insights into a possible population overlap between sub-stock B1 and the eastern North Atlantic stock in the Cape Verde Islands
- To facilitate the responsible growth of the eco-tourism (i.e. whale-watching) industry on the island and disseminate information on responsible whale-watching
- To assist in establishing the country’s first marine protected area and passing a body of legislature designed to protect the cetaceans and regulate human interactions
This project aims to provide further insight into the suggested overlap between the North Atlantic humpback whale population and the Antarctic sub-stock B1. By analyzing photo ID as well as breeding song similarity or dissimilarity, we aim to provide a more complete understanding of the proposed interaction of these populations.
This study also aims to provide the first complete breeding song description for Antarctic sub-stock B1, facilitating cross-comparisons to other populations, such as the Cape Verde Island population.
Through the use of citizen science aboard whale watching vessels, this project also aims to generate local wealth through the use of eco-tourism. We propose to disseminate responsible whale watching guidelines to ensure the safety and comfort of the animals in this proposed nursing ground.
This project further aims to provide recommendations to the government regarding marine policy. By utilising geographic data on humpback prevalence, we aim to assist in developing the country’s first marine protected area for this important breeding habitat. Currently, very few laws are in place to regulate interactions with any cetaceans in São Tomé waters.
We hope to not only help in establishing the country’s first marine protected area, but to help with the creation of a body of legislature designed to further protect the cetaceans and regulate any research or ecotourism, as per their Environmental Goals for 2015-2020.
Our Partners
We are partnering with MARAPA, a local NGO dedicated to the protection of marine and coastal habitats and ecosystems and responsible management of the island’s fisheries.
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Operation Tunhã is a project that launched in 2011, dedicated to the observation, scientific monitoring and conservation of the cetaceans that call this island home. Operation Tunhã encourages the public’s participation in this initiative and promotes responsible whale watching in the area. They work closely with cetacean scientists to monitor the health of the cetacean populations and learn more about how they can be better protected.
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Considering the challenges that sea turtle conservation faces in nowadays, Programa Tato adopted an integrated approach essential to improve the protection and sustainable management of key sea turtle habitats (nesting beaches and feeding areas) by engaging key conservation leaders and young early biologists and conservationists. Programa Tato, through capacity building, and the development of alternative livelihoods linked to the enhancement of non-consumption of sea turtles and through the increase of coastal communities awareness and education, are protecting numerous species.
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