Reliable ecological data on cetaceans remain scarce along the West African coast, where limited survey capacity constrains conventional monitoring. In such data-poor contexts, Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from artisanal fishers offers a valuable complementary source of information on species occurrence, habitat use, and interactions with fisheries. This study examines how socio-demographic, cultural, and operational factors structure the distribution of LEK on cetaceans among Gabonese artisanal fishing communities. Between 2022 and 2024, 189 fishers were interviewed across five major coastal regions. Using Fisher’s exact tests, Multiple Correspondence Analysis, and Hierarchical Ascendant Classification, we identified six distinct fisher profiles that differed markedly in LEK acquisition. Older, more experienced, and predominantly West African migrant fishers exhibited the highest levels of LEK, whereas younger urban Gabonese fishers, particularly from Libreville, showed lower ecological familiarity. Participatory mapping revealed that over 75% of reported fishing locations were concentrated within 20 km of the coast and 95% within 52 km, indicating a strong spatial concentration of artisanal fishing effort in nearshore waters. This pattern suggests a high potential for spatial overlap between fishing activity and coastal cetacean habitats, with implications for bycatch risk. Our findings demonstrate that LEK is unevenly distributed and shaped by socio-cultural heterogeneity and fishing intensity. Recognizing these differentiated knowledge profiles can improve the reliability of LEK-derived indicators and enhance their integration into national biodiversity monitoring, species distribution modelling, and participatory bycatch mitigation strategies. This research provides actionable insights for inclusive marine governance in Gabon, and other data-poor tropical coastal systems.
Kema et al. (Wed,) studied this question.