The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe has taken a significant step in marine conservation, announcing that it will establish eight marine protected areas in its coastal waters. The declaration is the country’s first formal commitment to marine protection. The law designating the MPAs has been approved by the Council of Ministers and is expected to be published in September, João Pessoa, the government’s director of fisheries and aquaculture, told Mongabay. “[The designation of the MPAs] is not only about protecting biodiversity. It is also about ensuring food security, preserving our traditional fishing culture, and strengthening resilience to climate change,” Pessoa said. Pedro Ramos, project officer at U.K.-based nature conservation NGO Fauna & Flora, told Mongabay by email that for the first time, there will be laws that prohibit or restrict certain fishing activities in specific locations. Local fishers will face such restrictions for the first time. Flying fish for sale at a market in São Tomé. Image courtesy of Rede De Áreas Marinhas Protegidas De STP (RSTP)/Fauna & Flora. Fishing is predominantly artisanal in the country, with fishers using small boats and nonselective gear. They land whatever they can net, regardless of species or size. “This lack of selectivity, combined with the proximity to sensitive coastal zones, has had serious consequences for critical habitats such as nurseries and breeding grounds,” Ramos said. São Tomé and Príncipe comprises two islands in the Gulf of Guinea located 200 kilometers (about 120 miles) off the coast of the Central African nation…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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