Paving the Way for Marine Co-Management in Cabo Verde

Photo credit: Katelene Delgado

Between 8 and 11 June 2026, more than 35 representatives from public institutions, civil society organisations, community associations, academia and development partners gathered in Mindelo for a training session on ‘Co-management and Participatory Governance of the Oceans in Cabo Verde’. The initiative was organised by Fauna & Flora in partnership with the National Directorate for Maritime Policy and the TAOLA+ network, as part of the project ‘Catalysing Marine Co-management in Cabo Verde: Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Ocean Governance,’ funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. 

This training took place at a particularly significant time for the country following the approval of Decree-Law No. 25/2026, which establishes the new co-management model for the National Network of Protected Areas. The meeting sought to address a key question: how can the principles of co-management be translated into practical reality for Cabo Verde’s communities, institutions and marine ecosystems? 

The discussions highlighted the importance of placing communities at the heart of Marine Protected Area management by strengthening capacity-building, institutional coordination, and the active participation of natural resource users. Participants also identified challenges relating to sustainable financing, enforcement, communication and the effective implementation of management plans. 

One of the central themes was the link between conservation and livelihoods. Using the Participatory Market Systems Development methodology, opportunities relating to sustainable fishing, community-based tourism and the promotion of local products were analysed. Participants concluded that activities such as ecotourism, community-run accommodation, interpretive trails and local guide services can generate income, create incentives for conservation, and strengthen co-management. 

The training demonstrated that Cabo Verde now has a solid foundation on which to move forward with the implementation of co-management. The next step is to transform the commitments and knowledge gained into concrete actions that promote more inclusive, participatory and sustainable marine governance, capable of generating lasting benefits for people and nature.

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Photo credit: Katelene Delgado