Instituto de Engenharia E Ciências Do Mar, Campus de Ribeira de Julião, Universidade Técnica do Atlântico Instituto (UTA), CP 163, Mindelo 2110, Cape Verde
Gnilane Diouf
Instituto de Engenharia E Ciências Do Mar, Campus de Ribeira de Julião, Universidade Técnica do Atlântico Instituto (UTA), CP 163, Mindelo 2110, Cape Verde
Elisabeth Mayé Diouf
University Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Fann, Dakar BP 5005, Senegal
Omar Sanneh
Department of Parks and Wildlife Management, Abuko, The Gambia
National Environment Agency, Jimpex Road, Kanifing, The Gambia
Melissa Ndure
Instituto de Engenharia E Ciências Do Mar, Campus de Ribeira de Julião, Universidade Técnica do Atlântico Instituto (UTA), CP 163, Mindelo 2110, Cape Verde
Lynette John
Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (IMBO), University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Lisdália Moreira
Direcção Nacional do Ambiente, Ministério do Ambiente, CP 332-A, Praia 7600, Cape Verde
Zofia Radwan
Direcção Nacional do Ambiente, Ministério do Ambiente, CP 332-A, Praia 7600, Cape Verde
The onset of a major seagrass initiative in West Africa enabled important seagrass discoveries in several countries, in one of the least documented seagrass regions in the world. Four seagrass species occur in western Africa, Cymodocea nodosa, Halodule wrightii, Ruppia maritima and Zostera noltei. An area of about 62,108 ha of seagrasses was documented in the studied region comprising seven countries: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cabo Verde. Extensive meadows of Zostera noltei were recorded for the first time at Saloum Delta, Senegal, which represents the new southernmost distribution limit of this species. This paper also describes the seagrass morphology for some study areas and explores the main stressors to seagrasses as well as conservation initiatives to protect these newly documented meadows in West Africa. The produced information and maps serve as a starting point for researchers and managers to monitor temporal and spatial changes in the meadows’ extent, health and condition as an efficient management tool.
