Conservation de Especes Marines - Ivory Coast

The objectives of Conservation des Espèces Marines are the conservation of animal and plant species living in marine environments, including estuaries and the mouths of rivers and streams of the Ivory Coast and to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of human populations (especially women) who live near the sea, through the creation of basic infrastructure and training in all sectors. Since 2014, Conservation des Espèces Marines has been carrying out a community management project for the protection of sea turtles. CEM raises awareness among local communities, reducing the human threat to sea turtles and involving local communities in preservation activities along a 30 km beach located west of Grand-Béréby (Mani Beach -Kablake).

The project aims to employ 10 people from Grand Bereby and the towns of Mani, Pitiké and Kablaké to collect the large amounts of plastic waste found on rocks and beaches, which are spawning grounds for sea turtles. The collected waste will be classified by type, conditioned and sent to Abidjan, where the only company in the country that recycles plastic waste is located, called Recyplast. This grant will make it possible to recycle plastic fishing nets that have accumulated mainly in rock reefs for many years. The project will also allow recycling other types of plastics that accumulate on beaches such as polypropylene, bottles, etc. which come mostly from fishing boats.