São Tomé and Príncipe getting eight new Marine Protected Areas in 2026

“We won’t run out of fish in our waters”

Local fishers welcome new marine protected areas in São Tomé and Príncipe

The designation of the first ever Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in São Tomé and Príncipe became official, following formal approval of the first two sites by the country’s President Carlos Vila Nova.

São Tomé and Príncipe is a tropical archipelago nation in the Gulf of Guinea.

These two Marine Protected Areas cover more than 63 square kilometres of critical habitat in São Tomé’s coastal waters and were selected through a combination of biological surveys and local community engagement led by Fauna & Flora alongside a consortium of partner organizations and Government agencies.

Six more proposed sites in Príncipe’s coastal waters will be designated in the course of 2026, making the total number to be 8.

This represents a positive first step towards the country’s commitment to achieving the global goal of protecting 30 percent of land and sea by 2030.

Announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Nilton de Sousa Pontes, during the ‘Our Ocean Conference’ in Mombasa, Kenya, the official designation now means management plans can be developed and co-management committees established, with the MPAs expected to be fully operational by early 2027.

“The benefits of these marine protected areas are considerable…. They are not just for the conservation and preservation of the marine environment; they also create opportunities for the sector by opening doors to ecotourism and the blue economy,” the Minister said.

Manuel Gomes, better known as Lindo, is a local fisherman who has been instrumental in efforts to design and develop the new Marine protected Areas.

Growing up on the island of Príncipe, Lindo has fished from a young age and was once a turtle poacher – selling turtle meat to help support his family. But, kick-started by a visit from a turtle researcher, Lindo has become a guardian of São Tomé and Príncipe’s turtles and marine life, and for decades has been central in engaging local communities in marine conservation.

From building support among local fishers and collecting key biodiversity data, to supporting the development of Marine Protected Areas proposals for the national government, Lindo has been key to the designation of the MPAs.

“I believe that the MPAs are extremely valuable to the fishers of Príncipe and the wider population. They guarantee that we won’t run out of fish in our waters one day,” he says.

“Clearly, the MPAs will benefit nature and the sea. There will be no more destruction of habitats caused by fishing nets, no more endangered species being caught, and no more small fish caught outside the legal limit.”

“Habitats that have been destroyed will regenerate and there will be an increase in fish, mollusks and shellfish.”

The new Marine Protected Areas at Santana and Ilhéu das Rolas in São Tomé include both highly restricted areas, which exclude fishing and the collection of other living and non-living resources, as well as sustainable use zones, which are limited to artisanal (traditional) fishers using legal equipment.

Species such as manta rays and sharks will benefit from the protection in MPAs, as well as sea turtles, with turtle nesting beaches included within the protected areas.

The aim is to enable the recovery of marine life in the area, bringing benefits for nature, as well as for the local coastal communities who rely on fish for their food and livelihoods- but who have seen a dramatic decline in fish stocks in recent decades, largely due to industrial and destructive fishing, compounded by climate change. It is expected that with effective management, the MPAs will give fish populations a chance to recover, with increased numbers eventually spilling out into wider waters, which will support local livelihoods and food security.

Natércia Silva, better known as Téte, is a fish trader (or Palaiê) on the island of Principe.

She observes: “In recent years, the fish population has undergone significant changes. Previously, there were many more fish located closer to the coast, but now, there has been a notable shift in their distribution, with fewer fish found and much further from the coastline.”

“MPAs are good for raising fish. We can’t keep using these areas until the fish run out; we need to designate responsible fishing areas. MPAs benefit the daily lives of local people because they generate more income for us palaiês, and they benefit fishers too! However, if these areas are not well patrolled and we do not ensure responsible fishing, there will be negative impacts.”

Fauna & Flora and its regional partners, Oikos, Marapa and Fundação Príncipe, have been working alongside local communities and the government to strengthen marine protection through the co-design of MPAs since 2018.

Project partners WildAid have also been training local enforcement agencies in preparation for the MPA designations.

Community-led and participatory processes have helped to identify areas where protection of marine and coastal habitats would most benefit livelihoods, with 41 coastal communities engaged across more than 200 meetings and events.

Project partners have also worked to develop alternative sources of income for those fishing communities that are suffering due to low fish stocks and may face restrictions due to the MPAs.

This includes supporting the establishment of a range of small local businesses and providing training on a variety of enterprise skills – from baking to soap making, to tailoring, to hairdressing – while also supporting businesses that improve the quality and value of the fish sold at market.

Going forward, Fauna & Flora and partners will continue to work locally to build capacity to co-manage the MPAs; develop sustainable finance mechanisms to support management costs; and ensure alternative livelihoods are viable and contribute to community wellbeing.

The partnership will also continue exploring options for expansion of the MPA network.

Pedro Ramos, Fauna & Flora’s Project Officer in São Tomé and Príncipe, comments:

“I’ve lived near the coast my entire life and I’ve never seen our sea under such immense pressure – from climate change, from destructive fishing, from pollution.”

“It’s more important than ever to step up and save our ocean. Designating these MPAs has taken a village; local communities, local and international conservation teams, and regional governments have all come together to create these havens for marine life. Our focus must now turn to proper management of the MPAs, and hopefully we will see nature rebound beautifully.”

The “Rede de Areas Marinhas Protegidas de STP” project is being implemented by consortium partners Fundação Príncipe, Oikos and MARAPA with the support of Fauna & Flora, WildAid and Parliamentarians for Global Action.

Key funders include Blue Action Fund, Oceans 5, Rainforest Trust, Bohemian Foundation and Arcadia.

Markus Knigge, Executive Director of the Blue Action Fund said: “It’s fantastic to see the progress for these marine protected areas after much hard work, communication, participation and planning. The protection of these waters is critical for people and nature, and Blue Action Fund is proud to be supporting such important work.”