From April 10 to 18, a team of researchers and Bissau Guineans fishermen embarked on an exceptional expedition in the João Vieira–Poilão Marine National Park, at the heart of the Bijagós Archipelago, with the goal of attaching satellite tags to guitarfish, locally known as kassapaï in Creole—a species now on the brink of extinction.
This mission, led by experts from the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP), the National Institute for Fisheries and Oceanographic Research (INIPO), and Wageningen University, was carried out with the invaluable support of local fishermen. Six adult guitarfish were fitted with tags that will track their movements for eight months. The collected data will help researchers better understand their migration patterns and identify critical marine habitats essential for their survival.
In parallel, 17 juvenile guitarfish were captured, measured, and examined to gather more information about this still poorly understood species. All this data is crucial for implementing concrete conservation measures and ensuring sustainable management of these marine animals.
The tags, programmed to detach automatically once their mission is complete, will then transmit the data via satellite. This breakthrough will enhance knowledge about the species and guide future conservation efforts.
This operation is part of the “Swimming in Dangerous Waters” project, funded by the Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) and implemented by PRCM, in partnership with INIPO and IBAP.
