Local Communities Join Management of Manyange Na Elombo-CampoCEFR A2
3 Dec 2025
Adapted from Leocadia Bongben, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Lesly Derksen, Unsplash
The Manyange Na Elombo-Campo Marine Protected Area is on Cameroon's Atlantic coast and includes ten villages. Local people depend on the sea and the coast for food and work. Historically, communities were excluded from park decisions, but they now take part in management.
On June 28, 2024, MINFOF presented a guide to involve communities. Before that, Tube Awu, The Turtle House and Jacques Fretey worked with conservator Patrick Maballa Sambou to revive the park and create a charter. The charter sets a closed season called Vilonda in July–August and bans the small-mesh gear wakawaka.
The charter lets communities fish in 24,000 hectares and bans fishing for about one kilometre around Turtle and Wolf Rocks. Illegal fishing and uncertain funding remain problems.
Difficult words
- Marine Protected Area — coast area set to protect sea life
- conservator — person who cares for a protected area
- charter — written agreement about rules and management
- closed season — time when fishing is not allowed
- wakawaka — type of small-mesh fishing gear
- hectares — unit for measuring land area
- illegal — not allowed by the law
- funding — money to pay for a project
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do local people use the sea and the coast in this area?
- Do you think a closed season for fishing is useful? Why or why not?
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