The 2026 Regional Marine and Coastal Forum: Ocean Health at the Heart of Future Solutions

West Africa’s marine and coastal ecosystems, among the richest in the world, are central to food security, employment, and economic development. Along the Atlantic coastline, where major cities are concentrated, tens of millions of people depend directly or indirectly on these resources.

But this vital area is now under threat from multiple pressures: overexploitation of resources, pollution, habitat degradation, coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and the impacts of climate change. This gradual deterioration of ocean health threatens ecological balance, national economies, and the stability of coastal communities.

As a partner of the PRCM, the FFEM will be fully committed to sharing its experience and promoting concrete solutions led by local stakeholders.

Established in 2003, the PRCM was created to address the need for coordination of initiatives in West Africa.
Having evolved into a true partnership platform in 2012, it now plays a pivotal role in fostering dialogue among stakeholders and shaping coastal policies at the regional level.

The partnership between FFEM and PRCM is part of a long-term vision: to balance ecosystem conservation, economic development, and adaptation to climate change.
Among the initiatives supported is the RESILAO project, implemented in Cape Verde, Mauritania, Guinea, and Senegal, as well as in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, which supports local solutions that combine conservation, sustainable economic activities, and the strengthening of coastal communities’ resilience.

The Plankt’ECO project, carried out in partnership with the Tara Ocean Foundation, illustrates the key role of science in ocean management.

By studying the marine microbiome—which is essential to climate balance—the project builds local capacity in Mauritania and Senegal through the creation of a plankton imaging platform, and fosters dialogue between scientists and policymakers.

At FOMACO, the FFEM will also present its strategy for the high seas.
For over 30 years, it has supported more than 200 marine protected areas. Since 2014, it has supported biodiversity conservation in the high seas by combining scientific research with support for the creation of the first marine protected areas under the BBNJ agreement, which entered into force this year.

In total, €11.5 million has been committed to projects covering all major ocean basins (Atlantic, Indian, Pacific), mobilizing international scientific communities and strengthening the capacities of countries in the Global South.

Through its Mangroves Initiative, the FFEM promotes these ecosystems as nature-based solutions to climate change.

Implemented in West Africa, Asia, and Central America, this initiative supports:

• Ecological restoration,
• Natural regeneration,
• Sustainable mangrove management.

Mangroves play an essential role: protecting coastlines, storing carbon, preserving biodiversity, and supporting local economic activities. Their restoration is a major driver of coastal resilience.

As part of this initiative, a publication titled “Mangroves: Coastal Anchors” was produced by the FFEM and Océanopolis with support from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The FFEM also supports structural initiatives such as the WACA regional program, which is dedicated to combating coastal erosion and flooding.

In this context, the RETCAO project, which will be implemented in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Senegal, and Togo, will strengthen the resilience of West African coasts through “soft” approaches: ecosystem restoration, vegetation restoration, and support for local stakeholders. The official launch of the project will be announced during the forum, and a presentation will be given by the Centre for Ecological Monitoring (CSE).

In Senegal, the Nebeday Resco Saloum project exemplifies this integrated approach. In the Sine Saloum Delta, it combines ecological restoration, technical innovations, and the development of sustainable economic activities, particularly for the benefit of women.

FOMACO highlights the importance of an integrated approach to marine and coastal issues.

Through its projects, FFEM demonstrates that it is possible to reconcile science, ecosystem conservation, and regional development.
These actions are guided by a core belief: sustainable solutions for the ocean rely on collective commitment and nature-based solutions.

In Nouakchott, FOMACO 2026 is thus poised to serve as a catalyst for concrete action for the future of the oceans.