The habitats of most species of marine megafauna (sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds) are often the same as those of human activities such as fishing, shipping and tourism. This overlap leads to frequent interactions between these activities and marine species. It is in this context that the CAMAC project was conceived.

The CAMAC project, for CAribbean marine Megafauna and anthropogenic ACtivities, aims to improve knowledge of these interactions and strengthen regional collaboration. The aim is to provide Caribbean governing bodies and environmental stakeholders with recommendations and tools to reduce the negative impacts of interactions between marine megafauna and human activities.

To achieve this, five specific objectives have been defined

• to improve knowledge of Caribbean marine megafauna (marine mammals, marine turtles, seabirds, sharks and rays);
• to assess the environmental and socio-economic issues related to interactions between human activities and marine megafauna
• Strengthen regional cooperation and the skills of stakeholders (in particular by reinforcing existing networks);
• strengthen the commitment of young Caribbeans to the conservation of megafauna and marine heritage in general;
• to make recommendations to the governing bodies in order to support the implementation of the most appropriate policies possible.

The geographical scope of this project concerns at least the whole of the Lesser Antilles, but also the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica to the west, and the exclusive economic zones of the countries and territories of the Guiana plateau to the southeast. The CAMAC project will therefore involve international partners.

Photo banner credit: Benjamin Guichard / Office français de la biodiversité