The West African nation of Senegal is facing a serious problem with food security, in part due to a decline in its fisheries. So the Senegalese government and the U.S. Agency for International Development have turned to the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center for answers.

The Center, based at the Graduate School of Oceanography, has worked with numerous developing nations on coastal management and sustainable fisheries initiatives for three decades, but this is its first project in Senegal.

A primary objective of the project is to develop strategies and policies that the Senegalese government can implement to make their fisheries more sustainable and to adapt to climate change.

Through a participatory process, the URI team will develop management plans for each fish stock that includes protection of critical habitats and the identification of national and community scale actions for adapting to the effects of climate change.

Funded by an $11.5 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the project will include collaborations with numerous local partner organizations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, a local university, and several community and fisherman’s organizations.

In Rhode Island, the project is being led by James Tobey at the Coastal Resources Center and Kathleen Castro at the URI Fisheries Center. In addition, many URI faculty and researchers with expertise in fisheries, climate change, economics, and other disciplines will provide training and guidance. Senegalese students and fisheries managers will also come to Rhode Island for workshops and other educational opportunities.

For more details, please see the full press release.