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A Sea Worth Protecting: Will Tarrafal and Monte Trigo get their own Marine Protected Area?
- Gilda Monteiro / Silvana Roque, Terrimar
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
On 21 April 2026, the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training’s meeting room in Porto Novo transformed into a forum for discussion: diverse institutions, NGOs, authorities and representatives from the communities of Santo Antão island’s Tarrafal and Monte Trigo came together to decide the future of the marine area comprising Tarrafal, Monte Trigo, and Poss de Paul. The outcome of this discussion was excellent: everyone agreed on the creation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) between Monte Trigo and Tarrafal, and the development of an OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure) in the Poss d’Pau area.
Why is this decision so important?
Tarrafal, Monte Trigo and Poss d’Pau are among the most unique places on the island of Santo Antão, home to a rich variety of flora, fauna and marine life. Their beaches, including Praia Grande, Curralinho, Misinha, Bernard and Gurgui, provide important nesting grounds for sea turtles, while the surrounding cliffs support seabirds such as shearwaters, gulls, and reed warblers.
Offshore, the waters are frequented by pilot whales, humpbacks, killer whales and dolphins, and beneath the surface lie remarkable gorgonian and black coral ecosystems. A nearby deep coastal bay, which plunges to depths exceeding 1,000 metres, has even revealed new species of fish and invertebrates, highlighting the area’s exceptional natural value.
Local communities depend on these waters for their livelihoods, including small-scale fishing that feeds families in Porto Novo and São Vicente and an emerging tourism sector centred on ecotourism, homestays and SCUBA diving. The discussed proposal originated from the local population themselves, who rely on this area for their livelihoods and already demonstrate a strong awareness and motivation to protect it.
What do MPA and OECM stand for?
An MPA (Marine Protected Area) offers stronger legal protection, international recognition and leverage against incompatible industrial projects, such as intensive aquaculture. ‘OECM’ is a term for Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures beyond MPAs, such as fisheries management areas, representing conservation measures that are faster to establish and more flexible to implement, allowing for immediate community co-management.
The final decision reflected a balanced approach: MPAs in Tarrafal and Monte Trigo to ensure maximum protection of unique ecosystems, and an OECM in Poss d’Pau, an adjacent area with potential for aquaculture.
Challenges and solutions
The weakness of maritime enforcement, which stakeholders currently consider insufficient, was discussed at length, with several practical solutions identified. These include: co-management through a community committee to help support enforcement; new legislation that allows community associations to work alongside NGOs in managing these areas; and the need for semi-industrial and industrial vessels to use the VMS tracking system, facilitating enforcement.
Local perspectives were critical to the discussions. The President of the Tarrafal Fishermen’s Association, Mr José, emphasised that local fishing practices in Tarrafal are largely sustainable, with most fishers relying on traditional handline methods rather than more destructive practices. Nelson Lopes, a community facilitator, pointed out that the biggest threat comes from outside the area, particularly predatory fishing by vessels arriving from São Vicente, putting increasing pressure on local marine resources.
Next steps:
The momentum behind the initiative is growing, with a clear plan now taking shape. The first step will be the submission of an expression of interest from the community and other institutions, highlighting their shared commitment to the conservation of this unique area. This will be followed by the preparation of a consolidated technical proposal supported by scientific data, to be submitted to the National Directorate for the Environment.
At national level, support is also growing. The National Director for Maritime Policy, Anísio Évora, committed to advancing the proposal, pledging to present it to the Ministry for Transport and the Sea and the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action and Energy. He also confirmed his support for the proposal of an MPA in Tarrafal and Monte Trigo, alongside a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Poss d’Pau. Together, these steps point towards a shared future, protecting the sea goes hand in hand with the wellbeing of the communities who depend on it.
Tarrafal and Monte Trigo now has the potential to become a Marine Protected Area, safeguarding a truly unique ecosystem. Most crucially, government support and the awareness and commitment of the local communities themselves are enormous assets for the future of these areas. Now, the focus is clear: to work together to protect the sea, preserve biodiversity and safeguard local traditions, ensuring that conservation efforts are both lasting and locally led.
Photo credit: Charlotte Riddick, Fauna & Flora
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