The Horizon Europe project REDUCE joins over 700 leaders and experts at the 12th West African Marine and Coastal Forum in Nouakchott
A high-level delegation from the European consortium REDUCE, which includes the University of Barcelona (UB), the Marine Technology Centre (Fundación CETMAR), the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), BirdLife International (BLI), and the PRCM, which is also the local host, is participating in the 12th edition of FOMACO 2026 in Nouakchott
The project REDUCES of Horizon Europe, in which it participates CETMAR, is present these days in the West African Marine and Coastal Forum, the greater meeting of actors of the conservation in Western Africa, and that celebrates in the Palace of Congresses Mokhtar Ould Daddah from the Monday and until 30 April under the lemma: «The health of the oceans: crowbar for a sustainable blue economy and inclusive».
This event, the largest gathering of conservation stakeholders in West Africa, is being held at the Mokhtar Ould Daddah Congress Palace from April 27 to 30, 2026, under the theme: “The health of the oceans: a lever for a sustainable and inclusive blue economy.”
In a regional context marked by the climate emergency and the overexploitation of resources, REDUCE is positioned as a key initiative to help mitigate the bycatch of threatened marine megafauna in the fishing grounds of the Central-Eastern Atlantic. The project seeks to transform science into political and technical action, directly contributing to West Africa’s future regional roadmap for accelerating cooperation on ocean health.
During the forum, the REDUCE consortium will lead three strategic side events to present its proposals for potential innovative and scalable solutions:
• Side Event 19 (April 28, 2:30–4:00 p.m., Room C): “Reducing Marine Megafauna Bycatch: The Collaborative Approach of the REDUCE Project.” The socio-ecological dimensions and the commitment of key stakeholders to sustainable fishing will be analyzed.
• Side Event 20 (April 28, 4:30–6:00 p.m., Room A): “Electronic Monitoring Opportunities for West African Fisheries.” In collaboration with the FAO’s Common Oceans Tuna project, electronic monitoring (ERM) systems will be presented as practical tools to strengthen transparency and reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Side Event 33 (April 29, 4:30–6:00 p.m., Room E): “Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in West Africa.” A roundtable discussion organized in conjunction with the UNESCO-IOC MSPglobal program to foster inclusive dialogue on the equitable management of marine resources.
REDUCE’s participation in this forum, which is supported by the Mauritanian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, underscores the urgent need to restore ecosystems and ensure decent livelihoods for coastal communities in the region. As Dr. Ahmed Senhoury, Executive Director of the PRCM, pointed out, this edition should mark a turning point towards more systemic, coordinated, and financially sustainable ocean action.
The role of CETMAR
The Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar-Fundación CETMAR plays a key role in the REDUCE project delegation at the 12th Regional Marine and Coastal Forum (FOMACO 2026) in Nouakchott, Mauritania. CETMAR coordinates efforts to bridge the gap between scientific research and the practical needs of the fishing industry and policy-makers in the project area, seeking their involvement.
During the forum, Rosa Fernández, representing CETMAR, will lead a dedicated session on Tuesday 28 April. Her presentation, entitled “Stakeholder Engagement for Sustainable Fisheries: REDUCE Promotes Collaboration and Capacity Building”, focuses on the project’s approach to stakeholders to ensure that measures to mitigate bycatch of threatened species are effective and socio-economically viable.
CETMAR’s expertise in technology transfer and knowledge management is essential for translating the project’s scientific findings into sustainable fisheries management practices within the REDUCE area. CETMAR’s participation in this regional dialogue reinforces its commitment to the health of the oceans as a key driver of a sustainable blue economy in West Africa.
About REDUCE
REDUCE project is a pioneering initiative funded by the European Union Horizon Europe programme with over €8 million, running from 2024 to 2027, dedicated to researching ways to reduce the bycatch of threatened, endangered, and protected marine megafauna (turtles, cetaceans, birds, and sharks) and thereby protect marine biodiversity in the Central-Eastern Atlantic through international cooperation, involving all relevant stakeholders and promoting the development and implementation of cutting-edge technology.
