Togo

Togo

International or regional conventions

Togo is a member/signatory to the following international and regional Conventions related to cetacean conservation:

• International Whaling Commission (since 2005)
• Convention on Migratory Species (since 1996)
• The Abidjan convention
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Conservation of the Manatee and Small Cetaceans of Western Africa and Macaronesia

Confirmed observations

Van Waerebeek et al. (2017) describe five sightings recorded from shore in Togo between 2008 and 2015 (also available on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?user_id=togonature). These sightings occurred predominantly on the eastern coast close to the border with Benin, although an additional unconfirmed sighting was reported from the coast near the capital Lome. Small group sizes suggest that the species is not very abundant in Togolese waters.

Threats and trends

Segniagbeto et al (2014) state that “The majority of artisanal fishermen operating in Togolese coastal waters are of Ghanaian origin and are thought to promote trade and consumption of cetacean bushmeat. Because captures are illegal, enforced with some success in the main fishing centers, covert landings of cetaceans are exceedingly difficult to monitor, quantify or sample. Concern is expressed about pollution of Togo’s coastal waters with heavy metals due to phosphorite mining and export from the coastal basin near Hahotoé and Kpogamé.”

Report

Report a sighting or stranding by emailing info@sousateuszii.org

Contact person

We are still searching for local partners in this country. Please contact us if you are based in Togo and can help!

Relevant country-specific references

1. Collins, T., 2015. Re-assessment of the Conservation Status of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin (Sousa teuszii), Using the IUCN Red List Criteria. In Advances in marine biology Volume 72, pp. 47-77). Academic Press.
2. Segniagbeto, G., and K. Van Waerebeek. 2010. A note on the occurrence and status of cetaceans in Togo. SC/62/SM11, International Whaling Commission.
3. Segniagbeto, G. H., K. Van Waerebeek, J. E. Bowessidjaou, K. Ketoh, T. K. Kpatcha, K. Okoumassou, and K. Ahoedo. 2014. Annotated checklist and fisheries interactions of cetaceans in Togo, with evidence of Antarctic minke whale in the Gulf of Guinea. Integrative Zoology 9(1):1-13. doi: 10.1111/1749-4877.12011
4. Van Waerebeek, K., Barnett, L., Camara, A., Cham, A., Diallo, M., Djiba, A., Jallow, A.O., Ndiaye, E., Bilal, A.O. and Bamy, I.L., 2004. Distribution, status, and biology of the Atlantic humpback dolphin, Sousa teuszii (Kukenthal, 1892). Aquatic Mammals, 30(1), pp.56-83.
5. Van Waerebeek, K., M. Uwagbae, G. Segniagbeto, I. L. Bamy, and I. Ayissi. 2015. New records of Atlantic humpback dolphin in Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon and Togo underscore fisheries pressure and generalised marine bushmeat demand. bioRxiv:035337.
6. Weir, C. R., and T. Collins. 2015. A Review of the Geographical Distribution and Habitat of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin (Sousa teuszii). In: T. A. Jefferson and B. C. Curry, editors, Advances in Marine Biology Volume 72. Advances in Marine Biology No. Volume 72. Academic Press. p. 79-117.