Successful Funding Award for Dr Maurice Beseng to Advance Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods

Dr Maurice Beseng has secured £25,000 from the Participatory Research Fund to expand his innovative work on the participatory co‑management of Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in Cameroon. The award recognises his leadership in tackling one of the most pressing yet under‑addressed environmental challenges affecting coastal communities.

ALDFG is a major contributor to marine pollution, threatening ecosystems, food security, and economic stability. Dr Beseng’s project, titled Scaling Participatory Co‑management of ALDFG for Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods in Cameroon, will strengthen community-led approaches to reducing marine pollution by centring community expertise and lived experience, which will provide practical and environmentally effective solutions for improving local fishing practices and support long-term livelihood resilience.

Working closely with coastal stakeholders, Dr Beseng’s research will:

• Empower fishing communities through participatory decision‑making
• Map and monitor ALDFG hotspots using locally informed data
• Develop scalable co‑management models that can be adopted across Cameroon’s coastline
• Strengthen sustainable livelihood strategies for communities most affected by gear loss and marine debris

The Participatory Research Fund supports projects that embed collaboration at their core. Dr Beseng’s award highlights the University of Warwick’s commitment to research that delivers meaningful, measurable impact for communities around the world.