Training on Improving Surveillance of Marine Protected Areas in Cabo Verde Using Drones and Digital Technologies

Photo credit: Alice Costa

From 9 to 13 March, the island of São Vicente hosted an intensive training week dedicated to strengthening surveillance, enforcement, and monitoring capacities for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Cabo Verde, with a particular focus on the use of drones and digital tools. The initiative brought together 29 participants, including 6 women, from various institutions responsible for marine protection across the country’s islands.

Organised by the PaMAR Project, in coordination with the NGO Biosfera and in close collaboration with the Marine Ecosystems Threat Management Project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, coordinated by the National Directorate for the Environment (DNA) and co‑financed by GEF/UNDP, the training was carried out under a collaboration protocol established between the DNA and Fauna & Flora.

Throughout the week, participants took part in a combination of theoretical and practical sessions. The training opened with a detailed presentation by DNA on the legal framework governing Protected Areas and MPAs in Cabo Verde, including the different management authorities and the legal mechanisms guiding surveillance and enforcement in the archipelago. This was followed by three institutional presentations delivered by the authorities with direct mandates for marine enforcement: the Coast Guard – COSMAR, the General Fisheries Inspectorate, and the Maritime Police. These sessions enabled participants to gain a clearer understanding of each institution’s mandate, areas of competence, and operational procedures.

NGO Biosfera also contributed, leading a dedicated session on sea turtle monitoring and conservation which highlighted scientific methods, current challenges, and the importance of collaboration between institutions and civil society.

Collective discussion sessions allowed participants to reflect on the application of surveillance protocols, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify opportunities to strengthen inter‑institutional cooperation. These exchanges demonstrated that continuous coordination and communication are essential for effective MPA management and for safeguarding Cabo Verde’s marine ecosystems.

The technological component of the training was equally robust. Trainer Airton Jesus presented the theoretical foundations of drone use and operation, including safety standards, relevant flight regulations, mission planning and programming techniques, as well as data‑collection methods for coastal and marine monitoring and surveillance.

The training included five practical flight sessions carried out in different coastal areas of São Vicente and at the Coast Guard facilities in Mindelo. Participants were taught to operate drones in real‑life scenarios, practice remote observation techniques involving people and vessels, test different flight modes, and understand how these tools can be integrated into institutional enforcement procedures.

The collaborative spirit shown by participants, representing projects, public institutions, and civil society organisations, underscored the importance of working together to ensure the conservation of the archipelago’s unique coastal and marine landscapes.

Photo credits: Alice Costa