Launch event results of CAMAC2
The French Biodiversity Agency (OFB)/Agoa Sanctuary and its partners SPAW-RAC, WWF-Netherlands, and WIDECAST held the launch event of the EU-Interreg funded ‘Caribbean Megafauna and Anthropogenic Activities’ (CAMAC) project at the end of September 2025 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The project aims to understand interactions between human activities (e.g. fisheries, shipping) and marine megafauna (marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, sharks and rays) in the Wider Caribbean Region and provide guidance on how to reduce negative effects.
The objectives are focused on enhancing knowledge, strengthening regional collaboration, and developing tools and recommendations for policy makers and stakeholders working on ocean management and conservation.
50 experts from 16 Caribbean territories
About 50 experts from all over the region (16 territories) attended the launch event.
Every work package leader (with the work packages representing the different components of the project) organized a workshop aimed at advancing the various activities :
- Finalization of the survey intended for fishermen (WP1);
- Improvement of the datasheet used when a stranded turtle is found, and definition of the content of necropsy kits (WP2);
- Clarification of the objectives and curriculum targeted by the school twinning program (WP3);
- Development of the scientific protocol for sea campaigns and educational workshop on seabirds (WP4);
- Progress on the overall scientific vision of WP5;
- Initiation of reflection on the strategy and steps needed to ensure the impact of WP6, focused on recommendations for governing bodies.
The discussions were rich, and the exchanges passionate and benevolent. They reflect a promising start for the CAMAC project, which will run until the end of 2027.
The Agoa Sanctuary and its partners thank all the participants in the project.
In the press
The CAMAC2 launch event was covered by the Dominican media outlet Diario Libre: « Lanzan en RD proyecto regional para la protección de la megafauna marina del Caribe » — Diario Libre, October 6, 2025