The Project
Founded by Ana Lúcia Furtado Soares, marine scientist, the Angola Elasmo Project is the first initiative exclusively dedicated to the research and conservation of elasmobranchs in Angola. Based in Namibe Province, the project collects biological data, monitors fisheries, investigates national and international trade, and promotes awareness through education and engagement with local communities.
Elasmobranchs,sharks and rays,play a fundamental role in marine ecosystems. They regulate food webs, maintain healthy fish populations, and contribute to overall biodiversity. However, due to their slow growth, late maturation, and low reproductive rates, many species are extremely vulnerable to overfishing.
In Angola and across West Africa, shark and ray populations have experienced a marked decline since the 1970s, driven largely by increasing international demand for fins and meat. Fisheries, often poorly monitored, capture many of these species as bycatch, while others are directly targeted. Without data on which species are being caught, where, and in what quantities, effective conservation becomes impossible.
Scientific Importance
The study of elasmobranchs in Angola is critical for Africa, as it provides baseline information on species diversity, distribution, and interactions with fisheries. This work is supervised by Dr. Rima Jabado, an international expert in shark and ray conservation and Chair of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, with contributions from Dr. Gerhard Haszprunar and Dr. Carmen Santos, researchers with expertise in marine ecology, biodiversity, and conservation.
These data are essential to:
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Assess the impact of fisheries on threatened populations
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Develop sustainable management and conservation strategies
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Protect both vulnerable species and the coastal communities that depend on them
Mission
The Angola Elasmo Project is dedicated to the protection of sharks and rays (elasmobranchs) along the Angolan coast through the integration of scientific research, conservation, and education. Our goal is to address critical knowledge gaps regarding elasmobranch species, their abundance, and the threats they face, while empowering local communities to adopt sustainable fishing practices and responsible marine stewardship.
Philosophy
Marine ecosystems, particularly apex predators such as sharks and rays, are increasingly threatened by overfishing, habitat degradation, and unsustainable international trade. Effective conservation requires an integrated approach that combines rigorous ecological research, local capacity building, and targeted educational actions, promoting sustainable management and long-term ecosystem resilience.
At the Angola Elasmo Project, we prioritise long-term engagement, working closely with coastal fishers, training volunteers, and raising awareness among students, communities, and decision-makers. By bringing science closer to society, we aim to develop evidence-based solutions that protect threatened elasmobranchs while supporting the livelihoods of communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.
OUR TEAM
Meet the dedicated team behind the Angola Elasmo Project, committed to protecting and conserving marine life in Angola.
ANA LÚCIA FURTADO SOARES
Founder and Director
Ana Lúcia Furtado Soares is a marine scientist and conservationist, and a PhD candidate at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. She is the founder of the Angola Elasmo Project and a member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group(SSG) for the Africa region, contributing to the assessment of shark and ray species and to the integration of research and education outcomes into conservation strategies and public policy.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences from the Universidade do Algarve and a master’s degree in Biodiversity and Marine Conservation from Ghent University. Her international research experience includes work at Sorbonne Université (Pierre and Marie Curie, France) and at the Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (Brazil).
Previously worked as an Environmental Educator at the Oceanário de Lisboa, Portugal, and as Education Coordinator at the NGO Elasmo Project in the United Arab Emirates, where she led monitoring, training, and outreach programmes focused on sharks and rays.
In Angola, she develops research and conservation projects involving fieldwork, biological and genetic analyses, and environmental education initiatives with communities and students, aiming to promote the protection of threatened species, sustainable fishing practices, responsible management of marine biodiversity, and the implementation of evidence-based conservation policies.
BERNARDO COTRIM
Operations
Bernardo Cotrim leads the project’s operations with a unique combination of discipline, sensitivity, and purpose. With training and experience in the Armed Forces, he brings together operational rigor and the adaptability required in challenging contexts, placing these skills at the service of the Angola Elasmo Project.
Driven by a deep passion for marine life and the protection of ecosystems, he found in the project a greater cause capable of generating lasting environmental and human impact. Direct contact with fieldwork and the team’s genuine commitment were decisive in his choice to become fully involved, marking a personal and professional turning point.
Recognized for his leadership by example, Bernardo naturally assumes a motivating role, inspiring teams through action, dedication, and resilience. In parallel, he is a photographer and videographer, using a keen and sensitive eye to transform images into vivid testimonies of the importance, emotion, and impact of the work carried out in marine conservation.
DOMINGOS
DOS SANTOS
Strategic Coordination and Community Mobilization
Domingos dos Santos holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Resources and is a master’s student in Marine Sciences and Technologies, with additional training in Project Management and Marine Protected Areas.
He works within the ELASMO Project as the person responsible for strategic coordination and local mobilization, playing a central role in the organization, implementation, and consolidation of the project’s actions.
With experience in team leadership, institutional coordination, and volunteer supervision, he stands out for his ability to connect communities, partners, and organizational structures, ensuring coherence and effectiveness across activities in different operational contexts. His work directly contributes to strengthening the marine conservation initiatives, environmental education, and civic engagement promoted by ELASMO.
Committed to the sustainability of marine ecosystems, Domingos believes that effective conservation depends on informed community engagement and the development of solid, long-term sustainable projects.
PACIENE
CAPINGANA
Voluntary
Paciane Teresa de Carvalho Capingana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Resources from the University of Namibe and currently resides in Moçâmedes, Namibe Province.
She works professionally in the field of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS), serving as an EHS Assistant Technician, with a focus on risk prevention, occupational safety, and environmental protection.
She is also an Environmental Education Trainer, with an emphasis on Climate Change, contributing to the enhancement of environmental awareness and the adoption of sustainable practices.
Additionally, she serves as Coordinator and Advisor for the NERM Association and volunteers with the Angola Elasmo Project, actively participating in initiatives related to marine conservation, environmental education, and community development.
MARCELINO
CALENGA
Voluntary
Marcelino Temiha Calenga is a final-year student of Marine Biology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Namibe, focusing on environmental conservation, sustainable management of natural resources, and applied scientific research.
Throughout his training, he has combined theory and practice, gaining experience as a field assistant in biodiversity surveys, environmental monitoring, and environmental impact studies within the scope of the Professional Development Program at Holísticos – Serviços, Estudos & Consultoria.
He also worked as an assistant laboratory technician at the Lisima Foundation, developing essential technical skills for scientific research. He also participated in biodiversity projects promoted by the Kissama Foundation, in partnership with National Geographic.
An active volunteer with the Angola Elasmo Project since 2022, it was in this project that he consolidated his commitment to marine conservation, gaining direct experience in the field and deepening his understanding of the challenges of protecting elasmobranchs in Angola. This experience has been crucial in guiding his academic and professional trajectory.
VASCONCELO
MUSSOLVEIRA
Voluntary
Vasconcelo Mussolveira holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Universidade do Namibe and is currently based in Moçâmedes.
He carries out his professional activities in the environmental sector, working as an Environmental Technician with a focus on waste management, effluent control, and biodiversity conservation.
Has training in environmental education with an emphasis on climate change, contributing to the strengthening of environmental awareness and the implementation of sustainable practices.
He is the provincial coordinator of the NERM and a volunteer technician with the Angola Elasmo Project.
BRUNO CATRAIO
Voluntary
Bruno de Novais Catraio is a fifth-year student in the Marine Resources degree programme at the Universidade do Namibe.
He is a responsible and dedicated individual with a strong interest in continuous learning, guiding his work through respect, commitment, and a constant pursuit of personal and academic growth.
He has been collaborating with the Angola Elasmo Project for six years, during which he has consistently demonstrated availability, motivation, and a strong sense of responsibility. He believes he still has much to contribute to the development and strengthening of the project’s activities and maintains a solid commitment to remain actively involved in the coming years.
MILENA JUSTINA VOTA
Volunteer
Milena Justina Vota is a Marine Biology student and has been collaborating with the Angola Elasmo Project for four years, maintaining continuous and dedicated involvement in marine conservation activities.
For Milena, actively contributing to the conservation of marine ecosystems represents not only a privilege, but also a responsibility as a future professional in the field.
Her positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and strong teamwork skills make her a constant and valuable presence in all initiatives of the Angola Elasmo Project, demonstrating a genuine and consistent commitment to the cause she has embraced.