Facilitating Research

OELO supports ecological research with academic, governmental, and NGO partners to better understand biodiversity in the lake region of Gabon, to support local students, and to protect ecosystem services.

Our Lake, Our Future fisher-led data collection

Since 2014, with support from TNC, we have been training Oguemoué fishers to collect data on Lake Oguemoué on fishing methods, fish species caught, fish lengths and weights, and market prices. The information collected will help fishers to best manage local fisheries and monitor the success of the Oguemoué fisheries management plan, applying recommendations from scientific partners. A team from sustainable fishing Coop, Amven, led by Martial Angoue visits villages on lake Oguemoué twice a month to record fishing activity.

Sustainable Fishing Program Coordinator Maeva Rengouwa with members of the Ewüghe-Angome fishing coop measure the daily catch in Ondimba village (Photo credit Heather Arrowood)

African manatee threats

With support from partner organisation the African Aquatic Conservation Fund, OELO team members lead research on illegal manatee hunting and by-catch in fishing nets. Two members of the OELO team benefited from an African Manatee training, MENTOR manatee, led by AACF. When by-catch or manatee bushmeat meat was recorded in the past, a genetic sample was collected from the flesh or bones. Thankfully, these cases have all but disappeared. Fishers from the Oguemoué coops no longer record manatee by-catch since they stopped illegal practices of hitting the water to drive fish into nets that occasionally resulted in manatee calves tangling in the nets and drowning. We also lead outreach and environmental ed efforts focused on eliminating bushmeat trade and consumer preferences for manatee meat.

Amven data collector Martial Angoue with OELO co-founder Cyrille Mvele show manatee bones that were collected for genetic analysis. Sadly, manatee calves can get caught in fishing nets and we are working with fishers on ways to reduce this by-catch. Manatees are a fully protected species under Gabonese law (photo credit Heather Arrowood)

Supporting research projects with partners and students

We have hosted and facilitated research projects led by local and international partners on Lake Oguemoué including a herpetological inventory, a study of elephant genetics, fisheries work, and a chimpanzee project. These projects support and inspire local students and provide seasonal jobs for lake residents. Please contact us to discuss potential partnerships!

A primatologist from the Max Planck Institute sharing her work on a chimpanzee study with local student participants at our annual environmental leadership camp at Tsam Tsam (photo credit Rébecca Djanivenda)