The seamounts of Cape Verde: a biodiversity hotspot and a priority for marine conservation in the central-eastern Atlantic

Image Credit: Projecte Luso/iMirabilis2/iAtlantic

An international team led by Covadonga Orejas, a researcher at the Gijón Oceanographic Centre of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC); Veerle Huvenne, a researcher at the UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC); and Jacob González-Solís, professor at the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona, has published the first comprehensive study on the seamounts of the Cape Verde archipelago, their biodiversity, ecological functionality and socio-economic relevance in the journal Progress in Oceanography.

These volcanic formations — at least 14 large mountains and numerous smaller elevations — act as veritable oases of life in the deep ocean, concentrating nutrients and modifying the circulation of underwater currents. This supports exceptional biodiversity, ranging from microorganisms to communities of deep-sea corals and sponges, as well as sharks, turtles, seabirds and cetaceans. Their position between the temperate waters of the North Atlantic and the tropical waters of the South, further enhances their productivity and ecological connectivity. 

Loggerhead turtle.
Photo Credit: Jacob González-Solís

“The seamounts of Cape Verde are essential refuges for many species, and this study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the relationships between geology, oceanography, biology and socio-economic aspects,” explains Covadonga Orejas. 

“Understanding how seamounts work is key to planning their protection and ensuring the sustainable use of their marine resources,” adds Veerle Huvenne. 

“From the perspective of a civil society organization, knowledge about seamounts is crucial for improving marine spatial management and promoting the conservation of Cape Verde’s natural resources,” says Herculano A. Dinis, executive director of the Projecto Vitó Association in the African country. “These deep ecosystems act as key biodiversity areas and provide strategic information to guide public policy and marine spatial planning. In a country like Cape Verde, where marine protected areas are concentrated exclusively in coastal zones, the study of seamounts paves the way to more integrated and holistic conservation strategies that also include ocean waters,” he says. 

Photo Credit: Luso/iMirabilis2/iAtlantic project

The article analyses not only the biological richness of these ecosystems, but also the associated human uses, especially artisanal and industrial fishing, as well as the emerging risks linked to maritime traffic and the potential expansion of deep-sea mining. 

“As a State Party to the 30×30 biodiversity commitment and the Commitment for Biodiversity and the High Seas Treaty, Cape Verde has the opportunity to designate these seamounts as priority areas for conservation and sustainable management, thereby strengthening its regional leadership in marine protection and contributing to the achievement of international biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals,” says Jacob González-Solís, senior author of the publication, who is a member of the UB’s Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences.. 

“These mountains are fundamental to the health and well-being of the oceans and Cape Verdean society. Their cultural and economic importance is reflected in strong community support for their conservation, underscoring the need for the Cape Verdean Government to move towards developing a sustainable blue economy,” says Gillian Ainsworth, postdoctoral researcher at the EqualSea-CRETUS Lab at the University of Santiago de Compostela. 

Photo Credit: Jacob González-Solís, UB-IRBio

The seamounts of Cape Verde represent enclaves of enormous ecological and strategic value for marine conservation. In this context, the study emphasizes the importance of incorporating them into the country’s marine spatial planning and its network of marine protected areas. Several studies have shown that many of Cape Verde’s seamounts meet international criteria for recognition as vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSAs) due to their key role in productivity, ecological connectivity and the maintenance of ocean biodiversity. 

 Additional information: The study involved more than 40 researchers from 20 institutions in Europe, Africa and America, as well as funding from numerous agencies The IEO-CSIC, which coordinated the work, received financial support mainly from the European iAtlantic projects, which ended last year in 2024. Many of the authors of the review paper received funding from the European REDUCE project, which is now in its second year. The Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg Institute for Advanced Study, thanks to the study group led by Covadonga Orejas and Veerle Huvenne, also contributed to the completion of this study. 

Funding: This work was supported by the following funding agencies

Published in journal: Progress in Oceanography

Title: Seamounts of Cabo Verde: A review of their ecological and economic significance, anthropogenic impacts, and conservation needs

Authors: Covadonga Orejas, Beatriz Vinha, Gillian B. Ainsworth, Sarah Saldanha, Teresa Militão, Christian Mohn, Thor H. Hansteen, Sara S. Ratão, Henk-Jan Hoving, Teresa Amaro, Dominique M.J. Anderson, Deusa Araújo, Ana Mafalda Correia, Simon Berrow, Herculano A. Dinis, Rui Freitas, Evandro Lopes, Vanessa Lopes, Pedro Lopez, Thais Macedo, David March, Samir Martins, Diana M. Matos, Fernando Medrano, Tommy Melo, Gilda Monteiro, Ángela Mosquera Giménez, Vitor H. Paiva, Nuno Queiroz, Florian Schütte, Julian B. Stauffer, Albert Taxonera, Celine Van Weelden, Jacob González-Solís, and Veerle A.I. Huvenne

Source/Credit: University of Barcelona

Reference Number: es112525_01

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