The coastal zone of Togo is endowed with very productive but fragile ecosystems, such as lagoons, lakes, mangrove forests and swamps. These wetlands are teeming with biological diversity including fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, shellfish, and mangroves. This richness in biodiversity has meant that the entire coast of Togo with a total area of 591,000 hectares was designated as a Ramsar site in 2007, identifying it as a wetland of international importance for conservation and sustainable use.
The shellfish industry contributes to food security and job creation and is one of the main sources of income for many people, especially women in Togo. However, in recent years, shellfish resources have been threatened with extinction due to increased anthropogenic pressure associated with environmental degradation. The gradual decrease in shellfish stocks, therefore, constitutes a serious threat to the food security of households, whose incomes depend on it.
This assessment of shellfisheries in Togo is part of the implementation of the USAID project "Women Shellfishers and Food Security". The objective of the study is to provide information on the scale and characteristics of shellfisheries in Togo to decision-makers and to propose highlight opportunities for measures of good practice, good governance, and support for the sustainable development of the sector in Togo. This study complements a Literature Review covering shellfisheries in each of the 11 coastal West African countries from Senegal to Nigeria.
