Between 2018 and 2023, WCS teams, in partnership with the University of Exeter, conducted extensive monitoring of ray and shark landings from artisanal fisheries in Songolo, Pointe-Noire. This work led to the publication, in 2025, of an in-depth analysis of the dynamics of this fishery.
More than 40 species of elasmobranchs were identified, highlighting both the richness and high productivity of Congolese waters. Among them, six species accounted for most of the catches, including the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), which is classified as critically endangered.
The findings also reveal a concerning trend: most of the individuals caught are juveniles, threatening the renewal of populations. This situation is further exacerbated by the absence of specific national regulations governing the capture of certain ray and shark species.
While this fishery remains an essential source of income and protein for many communities, its expansion — driven by profitability and resource abundance — is leading to high and likely unsustainable extraction levels, posing a real risk to food security in coastal areas.