This secondment consisted meeting and networking with Prof. Ibrahima Ly and Dr. Eric Machu (additionally e-mail correspondence with Dr. Malick Diouf) for initiating the collaboration between the respective working groups and planning the current and future research stays and exchanges.

A work of recognition for field studies in Sine Saloum area was held to:

• study the role of mangrove crabs in driving ecosystem processes and how they are affected by crab fisheries;

• the connectivity of mangroves and adjacent ecosystems, both along the salinity gradient of the Sine Saloum estuary, as a scientific fundament for knowledge based decision making in MSP. The field study is reported to 2019 due to permit issuance procedures.