The West and Central Africa Elasmobranch Coalition (WCAEC) brings together researchers, organisations, and practitioners across 14 countries to address one of the world’s most urgent conservation challenges: the rapid decline of sharks and rays.
West and Central Africa are a global hotspot for shark and ray catches, despite their rich biodiversity and critical nursery habitats.
Driven by overfishing, limited enforcement, and fragmented policy, populations are declining rapidly - some species, such as guitarfishes in Guinea-Bissau, have declined by up to 97%.
Although many countries are signatories to international agreements, effective protection on the ground remains limited.
We collect critical data through market surveys and fisher engagement to understand species composition, fishing pressure, and mortality hotspots.
We support the development of national plans, strengthen legal protections, and align policies with international agreements such as CITES and CMS.
We deliver training, improve species identification, and support enforcement while fostering collaboration across countries and sectors.
We produced peer-reviewed publications on fisheries, trade, and policy of sharks and rays in the region, plus an atlas and ID guide.
We developed country-specific CITES action plans.
We mapped shark and ray mortality hotspots and critical habitats, and developed ISRA proposals.
We delivered ISRA and CITES workshops, alongside annual in-person training meetings.
