Sharks are frequently dreaded and misconstrued, yet they hold an essential function in upholding robust marine ecosystems. Globally, and especially in West Africa, shark populations are swiftly diminishing due to excessive fishing, habitat deterioration, pollution, and inadequate management systems.
In Nigeria, the situation is even more daunting. While sharks are captured daily in small-scale fisheries, limited scientific data is available regarding their population status, distribution, and ecological contributions. This scarcity of information has hampered efficient conservation strategies and sustainable fisheries management.
To fill this void, a recent conservation initiative funded by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) is enhancing shark conservation through a novel approach that merges scientific research with local knowledge in Nigeria’s coastal waters.
The initiative is built on the acknowledgment that conserving marine biodiversity necessitates the participation of the individuals who engage with the ocean daily. For centuries, small-scale fishers along Nigeria’s shoreline have closely monitored sharks, noting their appearances, how seasonal changes affect their presence, and how catches have evolved over time. This collective experience, known as Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), offers valuable insights into long-term environmental shifts.
Structured discussions were carried out across fishing communities to catalogue shark species occurrences, seasonal trends, and bycatch dynamics. Results indicated that most sharks captured in Nigeria are not intentionally sought after but are accidentally caught, predominantly via gillnets and hook-and-line fishing.
Fishers also consistently indicated a decrease in shark encounters over the years, linking these developments to coastal pollution, habitat degradation, and escalating fishing pressures, trends that closely align with global scientific assessments.
In addition to community involvement, the initiative incorporates advanced scientific tools to enhance the understanding of shark ecology. A principal research focus is the hammerhead shark, one of the world’s most endangered shark species.
Employing stable isotope analysis, researchers are exploring long-term feeding patterns and habitat utilization, while microbiome evaluation is aiding in the assessment of shark health, dietary interactions, and environmental exposure. These scientific techniques yield crucial insights into the role sharks play within Nigeria’s marine food webs.
By integrating laboratory-based science with fishers’ ecological observations, the research provides a more comprehensive understanding of shark ecology than either methodology could achieve alone. This combined approach bolsters ecosystem-based fisheries management and reinforces evidence for conservation strategies while enhancing national research capabilities.
The study, which includes the preparation of a peer-reviewed scientific publication, was made feasible through the Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grants Programme. Additional institutional backing was offered by Iconic Oceans Program and the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).
As the pressure on Nigeria’s marine ecosystems intensifies, this initiative illustrates that the future of shark conservation resides in bridging scientific inquiry and community knowledge, crafting solutions that safeguard biodiversity while fostering coastal livelihoods.
Omolara O. Fola-Matthews (PhD)
Chief Research Officer,
Department of Fisheries Resources,
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research
