Activities in Senegal

PROJECT TITLE

Evaluation of the Potential of Algal Resources in Senegal (PEPRAS)

TYPE OF COOPERATION

Technical Cooperation

TARGET AREA

In coastal area (Pointe Sarrene, Ngor etc.)

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

2013-2015

EXECUTING AGENCY

Directorate of the Management and Exploitation of the Seabed (DGEFM), Ministry of Fishery and maritime Affairs

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

Formulate a plan for the development of the algal resources to contribute to the sustainable management and the restoration of fisheries resources in Senegal

PROJECT SUMMARY

Fishery sector is considered as a very important sector, because fishery is an important source of income that justifies the strong support the Government of Japan since the beginning of the cooperation between the two countries. Senegal, due to his intertropical geographical position, benefits from a rich coastal area in algal resources represented by more than 250 species.
With the crisis observed in the fishery sector, characterized by an overexploitation of fishery resources, the exploitation of algae may constitute an alternative activity in some fishermen community and create new catalytic activities of development and ensure producers a consistent income. Thus, the existence of prospects both at the national and international level and the opportunities offered by the exploitation of algae in terms of alternative activities or substitute products create a growing interest in research and the exploitation of these resources. It should be therefore, to define the basis and mechanisms of management and sustainable exploitation of these resources of the seabed that is part of the follow-up to the Letter of Sectorial Policy of Fishery (LPS 2008-2010). In this context, particular emphasis will be placed to the assessment of the potential of marine algal resources and the establishment of a land plan. Thus for an efficient study of this project, several activities will be executed in collaboration with the University of Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, especially the collection of algae species in the target area of the project, the identification, the establishment of biodiversity, conception of herbarium, production of repartition map and the estimate of the biomass of two species of economic interest which are Hypnea musciformis and Meristotheca senegalensis as well as hydrobiologic and environmental data collection, treatment and analysis of data to the computer, Finally the elaboration of the terms of reference of a plan management project.

It’s in this context the Government of Japan assigned the experts from the university of Kagoshima, competent in seaweed collection and research in Senegal to extend the technical cooperation and transfer relevant skills to local authorities especially the ones of DGEFM.
The expected results of this project are:

• An inventory of algal resources;
• A mapping of distribution of species inventoried;
• An assessment of the potential (biomass) of 2 (two) algal species;
• Understanding of factors hydro-biological and environmental which have an effect on the bio ecology of algae;
• The availability of the reference terms of a developing plan of algal resources.