The annual Tusk Conservation Awards play a significant role in shining a light on those who understand, respect and protect the natural world. We are committed to finding, funding and telling the stories of Africa’s visionary conservationists – the awards are more important than ever in the global efforts to protect nature. Nominations for the 2025 Tusk Conservation Awards are open until 25th April, find out how to apply and the criteria for the three awards here.
Upwellings of deep, nutrient rich waters off the coast of northern Morocco, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, have made the region one of the richest fishing grounds in the world. The area is also an important habitat for loggerhead sea turtles, many of which sadly die when caught in fishing gear.
The sea turtles in these Moroccan waters originate from several nesting populations (North America, Cape Verde, and the Mediterranean): their accidental capture could have an impact on various nesting populations in the wider Atlantic, as well as the Mediterranean.
Efforts to protect marine turtles in Morocco’s waters have been underway since 1999, through collaborations with local artisanal fishermen – a profession that has traditionally been dominated by men.
In the village of Belyounech, which lies at the foot of Mount Moses on the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, a small group of local women has an unusually strong connection to the sea: they fish, dive and repair nets – tasks which are typically the realm of their husbands, and exceptional for women. Such is their bond with the ocean, however, the first-ever female fishing cooperative in Morocco was recently created. “We live in the sea. If we separate from it, we will die like fish,” said Mekhnas, President of the Belyounech cooperative.
The passion of the Belyounech fisherwomen is now being harnessed by a partner of Tusk, in order to integrate Moroccan women in marine conservation. Tusk recently awarded one of its prestigious conservation grants to Ocean Ecology Network, whose project will bring women and children into marine conservation efforts.
The timing of Tusk’s award happily coincides with Moroccan Government signalling (for the first time) an interest in bringing Moroccan women into the fishing sector, with its announcement of a ‘Memorandum Signed in Rabat to Support Women’s Economic Inclusion in Fishing Sector’.
Through Tusk’s funding to the project, the Belyounech women – together with other women from towns along Morocco’s Mediterranean coast – will be trained in varied activities such as sustainable fishing practices, the deployment of transmitters on to sea turtles, underwater clean-ups and data collection on accidental captures of endangered species. ‘Tusk is hugely proud to support organisations across Africa that safeguard our marine environments and the communities and species who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods,’ says Sarah Watson, Tusk’s Chief Conservation Officer.
‘The funding from Tusk will help empower these extraordinary women and give them strong voices for conservation in Morocco from within the fishing community,’ says Dr. Manjula Tiwari, Conservation scientist, National Geographic Society Explorer and President of Ocean Ecology Network.
‘Through the wives and children of fishermen, we hope to create a culture of marine conservation in the local fishing community. We believe that the information has a greater impact on fishermen because it comes from the people nearest and dearest to them.’
