1. Project to Enhance the Management of marine and Coastal Areas in West and Central Africa – Mami Wata Project by: Sheck A. Sherif Environmental Protection Agency 25-27 April 2016 Dakar, Senegal

2. MamiWata Project Launch Geography West Africa borders the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone Coastline: 570 Km Total land Area: 96,320 sq km Water: 247,300 sq km

3. Vulnerability, Fragility, sensitivity or Slow-Recovery – Demersal and Pelagic Fisheries (West Africa Regional Fisheries Program) -Legislation - 6NM demarcated for artisanal and small scale fishers Importance of Threatened, Endangered or Declining Species or Habitats – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Conservation International (CI), Liberia and West Africa Regional Fisheries Program (WARFP) - Mangrove project for Coastal Liberia - Territorial Use Right Fisheries (TURF) MamiWata Project Launch Essential EBSA Criteria

4. No assessment or workshop in support of SoME reporting. There are sufficient information from the GCLM’s TDA available on Liberia relating to marine and coastal habitats and species. Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment (ETOA) - http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/FAA&Regs/FAA1181 19/Liberia2014.pdf http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/FAA&Regs/FAA1181 19/Liberia2014.pdf In the short term, the EPA is keen to work with stakeholders and partners on the State of Marine Environment Report MamiWata Project Launch State of the Marine Environment

5. MamiWata Project Launch Information Sharing and Enforcement Liberia: Issues and Challenges (1) Enforcement of laws and regulations cuts across all major issues and challenges faced by the invasion of seaweed along the coast of Liberia. (1) There is little known of ocean and coastal resources in Liberia, as well as the sub region; (2) Data for particular region and/or sector are either not available or shared amongst relevant stakeholders and partners; and (3) There are no national/regional research institutions with agreements to either train early career scientists/professionals or share data and information for management and mitigation purposes.

6. MamiWata Project Launch Synergy-Standardized National Coordination Structures Integrated Oceans Management Secretariat Ministry of Finance Ministry of National Defense National Port Authority Liberia Maritime Authority Civil Society Group CBOs/FMOs Universities and Research Institutions Ministry of Agriculture Environmental Protection Agency Ministry of Justice Monrovia City Corporation Ministry of Foreign Affairs

7. MamiWata Project Launch Government Support POLITICAL WILL AND COMMITMENT Liberia: Issues and Challenges

8. MamiWata Project Launch Creating the Future ENCOURAGE PROMOTE ENCOURAGE IDENTIFY SIGN & RATIFY CREATE DEMAND ENCOURAGE HARMONIZE

9. MamiWata Project Launch …...You are what you do, not what you say!!