The chronology of overfishing in a remote West-African coastal ecosystem

A remote West African coastal ecosystem, the Parc National du Banc d’Arguin in Mauritania, is experiencing an early phase of overfishing characterized by increased targeting of higher trophic level species such as rays and sharks. This shift, previously undocumented due to its occurrence before scientific scrutiny, is now evident through long-term trends in mean trophic level and total catches. Contrary to traditional fishing patterns, this phase precedes the depletion of top predators and involves species that contribute minimally to the local economy. Researchers combined historical fishery data with recent monitoring programs to reveal this trend, suggesting that the ecosystem is now entering a state of 'fishing down the food web.'

Lemrabott, S. Y., van Leeuwen, A., Piersma, T., Braham, C.-B., Ball, A. C., Araujo, A., Olff, H., & El-Hacen, E.-H. (2024). The chronology of overfishing in a remote West-African coastal ecosystem. Ecology and Society, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-13902-290109