Omolara Fola-Matthews: Protecting Nigeria’s Sharks Through Science, Community Knowledge

Sharks are often feared and misunderstood, yet they play a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Across the world and particularly in West Africa, shark populations are declining rapidly due to overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution and weak management systems.

In Nigeria, the challenge is even more severe. Although sharks are landed daily in artisanal fisheries, limited scientific information exists on their population status, distribution and ecological roles. This lack of data has constrained effective conservation planning and sustainable fisheries management.

To address this gap, a recent conservation project supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) is strengthening shark conservation through an innovative approach that combines scientific research with community knowledge in Nigerian coastal waters.

The project is founded on the understanding that protecting marine biodiversity requires the involvement of the people who interact with the ocean every day. For generations, artisanal fishers along Nigeria’s coastline have observed sharks closely, noting when they appear, how seasons influence their presence and how catches have changed over time. This body of experience known as Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) provides valuable insight into long-term environmental change.

Structured interviews were conducted across fishing communities to document shark species occurrence, seasonal patterns and bycatch dynamics. Findings revealed that most sharks caught in Nigeria are not deliberately targeted but are captured incidentally, mainly through gillnets and hook-and-line fishing.

Fishers also consistently reported a decline in shark encounters over the years, linking these trends to coastal pollution, habitat degradation and increasing fishing pressure, patterns that closely reflect global scientific assessments.

Beyond community engagement, the project integrates advanced scientific tools to deepen understanding of shark ecology. A major research focus is the hammerhead shark, one of the world’s most threatened shark species.

Using stable isotope analysis, researchers are examining long-term feeding behaviour and habitat use, while microbiome analysis is helping to assess shark health, diet interactions and environmental exposure. These scientific methods provide critical insight into how sharks function within Nigeria’s marine food webs.

By combining laboratory-based science with fishers’ ecological observations, the research offers a more complete understanding of shark ecology than either approach could provide alone. This integrated method supports ecosystem-based fisheries management and strengthens evidence for conservation planning, strengthening national research capacity.

The study including the preparation of a peer-reviewed scientific publication, was made possible through the Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grants Programme. Additional institutional support was provided by Iconic Oceans Program and the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).

As pressure on Nigeria’s marine ecosystems continues to grow, this initiative demonstrates that the future of shark conservation lies in bridging science and community knowledge, creating solutions that protect biodiversity while supporting coastal livelihoods.

Omolara O. Fola-Matthews (PhD)

Chief Research Officer,

Department of Fisheries Resources,

Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research

 

Omolara Fola-Matthews: Protecting Nigeria’s Sharks Through Science, Community Knowledge