Consortium William

“The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and waters around Saint Helena have been identified as particularly important convergence zones for marine biodiversity and migratory routes; playing a central role in maintaining the resilience and connectivity of migratory marine species, including whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and migratory teleosts and elasmobranchs (Hays et al., 2016). Yet, climate change is reshaping the migration patterns of marine species (e.g., Womersley et al., 2024), heightening the urgency of protecting ecological corridors, a step forward from current MPAs, aimed at protecting habitats rather than mobile species (Sequeira et al., 2025). These climate-driven shifts in the distribution of marine megafauna also undermine the resilience of marine ecosystems and threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on fisheries (Cinner et al., 2012; Edgar et al., 2014). Findings by Edgar et al. (2014) demonstrated that well-designed and effectively managed MPAs can substantially rebuild depleted fish stocks and bolster ecosystem resilience to climate change. However, in a recent study, Sequeira et al. (2025) revealed that only 5% of global Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks align with marine megafauna’s residency or migratory routes, underscoring a critical gap in current conservation efforts. 

Together, this consortium pledges the urgent need for integrated, transboundary conservation strategies that protect and restore ecological connectivity, thereby ensuring the long-term persistence of marine migratory species. Hence, this project is focused on the evaluation and establishment of a climate-resilient MPA, the Atlantic Marine Migration Corridor (AMMC), extending from Cabo Verde through the Gulf of Guinea to Saint Helena, to ensure its long-term effectiveness in the face of increasing climatic pressures. While countries in the AMMC region are signatories to international agreements like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), there is a lack of coordinated marine spatial planning (MSP) and conservation efforts. Many countries lack the resources or capacity to implement sustainable fisheries management, and enforcement of regulations is often weak due to limited infrastructure. The GoG in particular comprises ~ 25% of African maritime traffic (~1500 ships/d) and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing (Ezeozue et al., 2021; Okafor-Yarwood et al., 2019), likely representing a region of increased collision and fishing risk. As marine species do not adhere to national boundaries, cross-border cooperation is crucial for effective conservation. Hence, the recent adoption of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement under UNCLOS presents an opportunity to address these governance challenges. The BBNJ agreement focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Its emphasis on marine genetic resources, area-based management tools (ABMTs), and environmental impact assessments (EIAs) aligns with the goals of this project, providing a framework for sustainable governance of the AMMC. Thus, our proposal aims to support the development of science-based, politically viable proposals for transboundary MPAs and high seas corridors, contributing to the global 30×30 biodiversity goal”.