On April 10-11, 2025, a stakeholder consultation workshop took place in Nouadhibou to establish a coordinated management approach for the Baie de l’Étoile Nature Reserve. Organized by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, with support from the WACA project, this event represented an important step forward in the preservation of this vital coastal ecosystem.

The workshop aimed to launch a participatory process to develop the Reserve's Management and Development Plan (PAG). Through open dialogue, participants identified key challenges, outlined strategic priorities, and laid the groundwork for a long-term, community-led approach.

 

Located in the Baie du Lévrier in northwestern Mauritania, the Baie de l’Étoile is a biodiversity hotspot. It is home to a rich mosaic of ecosystems—seagrass meadows, sebkhas, maërl beds, sandbanks, and rocky islets—and shelters over 470 marine and bird species, including rare and threatened ones. The Reserve plays an essential ecological role in marine life's reproduction and migration cycles.

But growing threats—urbanization, pollution, unregulated fishing, infrastructure expansion, and climate change—are putting the Reserve under increasing stress. These pressures have already caused seagrass decline, invasive species spread, and habitat fragmentation, pointing to an urgent need for action.

The PAG seeks to establish an integrated governance framework rooted in local participation. The plan aims to secure the Reserve's long-term protection by ensuring community ownership and alignment with local realities.

Officially designated as a Nature Reserve in 2024, the Baie de l’Étoile now benefits from reinforced legal protections. This designation is a key milestone under Mauritania's Coastal Management Directive, implemented with technical and financial support from the WACA project.