European Union pledges €59 million under WASOP to support sustainable ocean governance in West Africa

The European Union has pledged €59 million to support West Africa’s efforts to protect its oceans, strengthen marine governance and promote sustainable use of coastal resources.

The funding, provided under the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), is expected to support 13 countries in the region as they confront growing threats including declining fish stocks, illegal fishing, pollution and climate change.

The announcement was made in Accra during a regional workshop focused on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and strategies to track progress towards the global biodiversity target of conserving at least 30 percent of land and ocean areas by 2030. ...