World Heritage Identification Number: 506
World Heritage since: 1989
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇲🇷 Mauritania
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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Banc d'Arguin National Park: A Unique Marine Ecosystem in Western Africa
The Banc d'Arguin National Park, located on the west coast of Mauritania, is a remarkable testament to the rich biodiversity that thrives along the Atlantic coast. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, this protected area encompasses a diverse landscape, ranging from sand dunes and coastal swamps to small islands and shallow coastal waters.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Fringing the Atlantic coast, the park comprises sand-dunes, coastal swamps, small islands and shallow coastal waters. The contrast between the harsh desert environment and the biodiversity of the marine zone has resulted in a land- and seascape of outstanding natural significance. A wide variety of migrating birds spend the winter there. Several species of sea turtle and dolphin, used by the fishermen to attract shoals of fish, can also be found.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ix): Banc d'Arguin National Park is an ecosystem rich in biodiversity of nutrients and organic matter due to the vast expanse of marshes covered with seagrass beds, and an important windblown sediment addition from the continent and the result of the permanent upwelling of the Cap Blanc. This wealth ensures the maintenance of a marine and coastal environment sufficiently rich and diverse to support important communities of fish, birds and marine mammals.
Criterion (x): Banc d'Arguin National Park comprises the most important habitat of the Western Atlantic for nesting birds of west Africa and the Palearctic migratory waders. The vast expanses of marshes provide shelter to more than two million limicolous migrant birds from northern Europe, Siberia and Greenland. The nesting bird population is also remarkable in terms of diversity and number: between 25,000 and 40,000 pairs belonging to 15 bird species. The shallows and island area is also the centre of intense biological activity: there are 45 fish species, 11 species of shellfish and several species of mollusks. The property also contains several species of marine turtles, notably the green seaturtle (Chelonia mydas) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among the mammals, there are still some remnant populations of Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas). The bottlenose dolphin and the Atlantic hump-backed dolphin are frequently sighted in the property.
Encyclopedia Record: Banc d'Arguin National Park
The Banc d'Arguin National Park of Bay of Arguin lies in Western Africa on the west coast of Mauritania between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and is the former mouth of the Tamanrasset River. The World Heritage Site is a major site for migratory birds and breeding birds, including flamingos, pelicans and terns. Much of the breeding is on sand banks including the islands of Tidra, Niroumi, Nair, Kijji and Arguim. The surrounding waters are some of the richest fishing waters in western Africa and serve as nesting grounds for the entire western region.Additional Site Details
Area: 1,200,000 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 20.23472 , -16.10889
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Banc d'Arguin National Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
Image
© Kokopelado, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Banc d'Arguin National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Biology and ecology of sea catfish (Ariidae) of estuarine, lagoon and coastal ecosystems in West Africa
A comprehensive analysis of sea catfish (Ariidae) populations in West African estuarine, lagoon, and coastal ecosystems reveals significant ecological insights. The study, conducted across multiple sites including the Banc d'Arguin National Park, identified three dominant species: Carlarius latiscutatus, Carlarius parkii, and Carlarius heudelotii. C. latiscutatus accounted for 65% of samples, while C. parkii and C. heudelotii made up 29% and 6%, respectively. These species exhibit high environmental tolerance, thriving in salinity ranges from 0 to 50, temperatures between 19 and 34°C, and depths of 1.7 to 15 meters. Notably, C. heudelotii was found in less saline, cooler, and less transparent waters compared to the other two species. The study also estimated first maturity sizes for females (27–28 cm for C. latiscutatus) and documented rare cases of oral incubation by females. Diet analysis confirmed their role as generalist predators, consuming crustaceans, fish, and mollusks. This research, based on data collected from 1980 to 2013, provides critical baseline information for understanding the biology and ecology of these exploited species in West African waters.
Simier, M., Osse, O. J. F., Sadio, O., & Ecoutin, J.-M. (2021). Biology and ecology of sea catfish (Ariidae) of estuarine, lagoon and coastal ecosystems in West Africa. Journal of Fish Biology, 99(2), 629–643. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14751
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Chami, ville nouvelle et ville de l’or.Une trajectoire urbaine insolite en Mauritanie
Chami, Mauritania's newly developed town, exemplifies the intricate interplay between urban planning and artisanal gold mining, offering insights into the dynamics of desert urbanization. The study reveals that Chami's development, initially a state-led initiative with minimal inhabitants, gained momentum through the centralization of gold mining activities, transforming it into a bustling 'mushroom town.' This unique trajectory highlights how gold rushes and urban planning policies can mutually reinforce each other, creating complex socio-economic landscapes. However, the town's future remains uncertain due to potential shifts in government regulation, distribution of mining rents, and environmental concerns, particularly its proximity to Banc d'Arguin National Park.
Gagnol, L., Magrin, G., & Chevrillon-Guibert, R. (2020). Chami, ville nouvelle et ville de l’or.Une trajectoire urbaine insolite en Mauritanie. L’Espace Politique, 38. https://doi.org/10.4000/espacepolitique.6562
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Cichlids of the Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania: insight into the diversity of the genus Coptodon
A new species of cichlid fish, previously thought to be Coptodon guineensis, has been identified in the Banc d'Arguin National Park (PNBA) in Mauritania. This discovery challenges the current understanding of the genus Coptodon's diversity and distribution in West Africa. The study, combining morphometric, meristic, and molecular phylogenetic analyses, revealed that C. guineensis is paraphyletic across its range, with distinct lineages distributed allopatrically. This suggests that the current classification of C. guineensis should be restricted to Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, while other lineages should be recognized as Coptodon sp. aff. guineensis. Additionally, the presence of a second species, Sarotherodon melanotheron, was confirmed in PNBA.
Kide, N. G., Dunz, A., Agnèse, J.-F., Dilyte, J., Pariselle, A., Carneiro, C., Correia, E., Brito, J. C., Yarba, L. O., Kone, Y., & Durand, J.-D. (2016). Cichlids of the Banc d’Arguin National Park, Mauritania: insight into the diversity of the genus Coptodon. Journal of Fish Biology, 88(4), 1369–1393. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12899
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Assessing the Contribution of Marine Protected Areas to the Trophic Functioning of Ecosystems: A Model for the Banc d’Arguin and the Mauritanian Shelf
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) like the Banc d'Arguin National Park play a significant role in sustaining larger ecosystems, contributing up to 13% to total consumption and supporting 23% of production on the Mauritanian shelf. A study using food web models revealed that 15 out of 29 exploited species rely on the Banc for over 30% of their diet, highlighting its critical trophic function. The research applied Ecopath with Ecosim to analyze data from 1991-2006, accounting for fisheries, food web structure, and spatial distribution while addressing knowledge gaps through multiple models. Findings indicated that increased fishing pressure led to declines in high-trophic-level biomass and catch, confirming overexploitation. Simulations further showed that additional fleets could reduce outside MPA catches by 23%, underscoring the importance of MPAs in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Guénette, S., Meissa, B., & Gascuel, D. (2014). Assessing the Contribution of Marine Protected Areas to the Trophic Functioning of Ecosystems: A Model for the Banc d’Arguin and the Mauritanian Shelf. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e94742. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0094742
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Ship incident risk in the areas of Tubbataha and Banc d'Arguin: A case for designation as Particular Sensitive Sea Area?
Research confirms that ship incident risk has increased significantly near the Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania) and Tubbataha Reef National Park (Philippines), supporting their potential designation as Particular Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) under the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The study employed an integrated framework combining comprehensive data to estimate total risk exposure from shipping activities, revealing a rising trend in risk measures for vessels operating in or near West Africa and Southeast Asia. This finding underscores the need for heightened protection for these ecologically vital UNESCO sites, which are vulnerable to growing maritime traffic.
Knapp, S., Heij, C., Henderson, R., & Kleverlaan, E. (2013). Ship incident risk in the areas of Tubbataha and Banc d'Arguin: A case for designation as Particular Sensitive Sea Area? Econometric Institute. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3781.6480
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