After Bycatch Incidents, AMCO and CCAHD Build Local Capacity to Protect Cameroon’s Dolphins

In August 2015, an Atlantic humpback dolphin (AHD) was accidentally captured and killed, and the meat was shared as food in the coastal fishing village of Bamusso, in the Bakassi Peninsula on Cameroon’s border with Nigeria. Earlier in the year, another humpback dolphin was caught and successfully released, although the release was poorly handled. Both cases were reported through SIREN, AMCO’s citizen-science smartphone app used by fishers to document marine sightings during their routine activities.

The reports both came from a region where Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphins had never before been recorded.  In order to better document the events and ensure that this newly discovered population does not disappear before it can be better understood, the African Marine Conservation Organisation (AMCO), organised a three-day mission to the area in late November 2025. Facilitated through emergency support from the CCAHD, the team met with fishers, offered training, and raised awareness about the need to protect this endangered species.

As part of the mission, 17 artisanal fishers were trained on how to safely release dolphins that become entangled in their nets, using tools and diagrams from this guide available through the CCAHD website. They were also trained to collect basic data, photographs and samples using CCAHD protocols. These skills will strengthen reporting and support long-term conservation.

“We realised many fishers did not understand the importance of these animals,” said Cedrick Fogwan, AMCO’s Programme Manager. “That is why this training was important.”

One of the fishers, Labarna Dieudonne Ernest, shared his experience. He first saw dolphins at sea a few years ago while fishing and did not know they were protected. “I was a little afraid, and I didn’t know they were protected,” he said. “This training will help us release dolphins safely when they get entangled. I will pass on the knowledge to my peers who could not attend.”

In the Bakassi area, most fishers focus on shrimp fishing and set their nets at night, a practice that sometimes leads to dolphins becoming accidentally entangled during the day.

The team also strengthened the fishers’ ability to use the SIREN app to report sightings and incidents. Cedrick noted that these cases show how vital community involvement and technology are in conservation. “Through discussions with fishers, we have identified a previously undocumented area of AHD dolphin habitat. We plan to investigate it further.”

Environmental education sessions were held in the community and at the Government Bilingual Primary School Bamusso. Pupils enjoyed a reading of Keita and the Dolphin, which helped them understand why dolphins and other marine wildlife need protection.

It is worth noting that the Atlantic humpback dolphin, listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, gained legal protection in Cameroon in 2020.