Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

In terms of climate, Gabon is located at the heart of the equatorial domain, with constant heat, high humidity and abundant and frequent precipitation [ ] 108 The legal protection of marine diversity Gabon has adopted a series of laws aimed at protecting fishing resources. Fishing and fish farming activities are governed by the main laws of: • Law 16/2001, known as the Forest Code • Law 16/93 on the Environment Code • Law No. 9/84 establishing an exclu- sive economic zone of 200 nautical miles • Decree No. 62/PR/MEFPE, regulat- ing fishing • Establishment of an economic fisheries observatory • Fisheries code in the process of adoption. In addition, measures relating to other species such as sardinella and shrimps were taken by the Council of Ministers. Also notable are: • The creation of marine parks: Akanda (decree 608 / MEFEPEPN of August 30, 2002), Loango (De- cree 613 / MEFEPEPN of August 30, 2002) and Mayumba (decree 614 / MEFEPEPN of August 30, 2002) • The establishment of several breed- ing projects. The main texts governing the ac- tivities of inland fisheries and fish farming are : • Law 16/2001, known as the Forest Code in the Gabonese Republic • Law 16/93 of 26 August 1993 on the Environment Code • Law 9/84 establishing an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles • Decree 62 / PR / MEFPE of 10 Jan- uary 1994, regulating fishing • Establishment of an economic fisheries observatory • Fisheries Code in the process of adoption. In terms of strategy, the Gabonese government has implemented laws to protect marine biodiversity, that aim to: • Improve the management of fisheries resources through the establishment of an economic fish- eries observatory in Gabo, and the establishment of a medium-term fisheries research institute • Develop fishing and aquaculture activities through the promotion of small-scale fisheries support cen- tres; the training of neo-fishermen; the supervision of operators; and by the impulse of the development of fish farming • Strengthen the institutional and per-sectoral capacities of the sector by the adoption of a new legal framework (Fisheries Code) for the responsible management of fish- eries in Gabon; and the reinforce- ment of the regulatory provisions of the fisheries in force in Gabon • Promote the financing of the fisheries sector by realizing the concentration of public investments; the strength- ening of the sources of finance dedicated to the financing of fisheries and aquaculture activities; the study of the taxation of fisheries and fish farming; and the opening of a credit line for fisheries and fish farming. G abon is located in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the equator. Over 75 per cent is constituted by the river basin of Ogooué and nearly 85 per cent of the territory is covered by a large equatorial forest. The country is relatively flat and open on the Atlantic Ocean with a coastal basin 800km long and 20 to 300km wide. The territory, covers 26,7667 km² and includes three large sets of relief: old pedestals (crystalline plateaus to the north-east, mountain ranges of Chaillu, Mayombe, and crystal mountains), old sedimentary basins (plains of the Ngounié and the Nyanga, and the basins of Franceville, Okondja and Bees), and recent sedimentary basins (Batéké plateaux and the coastal basin). Elephant Marko Laakkonen Gabon