This move follows the expiration of an agreement between the European Union and Senegal, which will not be renewed due to ongoing concerns over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
Jean-Marc Pisani, the EU Ambassador to Senegal, confirmed the cessation of operations for around 18 foreign fishing boats, which primarily target tropical tuna and hake.
The EU had warned Senegal earlier this year about the country’s failures in combating IUU fishing, particularly the lack of effective monitoring, control, and surveillance in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its ports.
The European Commission issued a “yellow card” to Senegal in May 2024, citing the “serious gaps” in efforts to prevent illegal fishing activities and illegal exports to the EU.
“The European boats will cease fishing in Senegal’s EEZ starting from midnight on November 17,” said Pisani.
He explained that these vessels could choose to fish elsewhere, particularly in neighboring countries such as Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and the Gambia, where similar agreements exist.
The termination of this agreement is expected to have a limited impact on Senegal’s fishing sector, as the foreign vessels represent a small portion of the total catch, and their activities have not been seen as direct competition to the local fishermen.
The 18 vessels are primarily involved in deep-sea fishing, and their cessation will not significantly affect local fish stocks, which are mostly fished by Senegalese small-scale operations.
However, the political and economic ramifications are substantial. Senegal’s fishing industry is a vital part of the nation’s economy, providing livelihoods for approximately 600,000 people.
The sector also plays a crucial cultural role in coastal communities.
The issue of foreign competition in Senegal’s fishing waters has long been a source of contention.
Local fishermen, who primarily operate traditional pirogues, have consistently voiced concerns about the depletion of fish stocks due to the presence of foreign industrial fleets.
This has been a prominent issue under the administration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who, following his election in March 2024, promised to restore the country’s sovereignty over its fishing resources.
During a campaign event in November, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko criticized foreign boats for “plundering our resources.”
The EU’s Pisani responded by clarifying that under the previous agreement, European boats were only allowed to fish surplus stocks, but they had failed to reach the annual quota of 10,000 tonnes, with only 10,000 tonnes caught over the past five years.
The fishing sector’s challenges are compounded by illegal migration, with many coastal communities seeing their young people attempt perilous journeys to Europe by sea.
Despite the tensions, the EU continues to push for stronger regulations and enforcement to ensure sustainable fishing practices in Senegal’s waters.
With the fishing agreement now expired and the cessation of foreign vessel activities, Senegal will need to find new ways to manage its marine resources and ensure the livelihoods of its local fishermen.
Discussions for a potential new agreement are expected to take months, with the EU emphasizing the need for Senegal to address the identified gaps in its fisheries management.
As the situation unfolds, the future of Senegal’s fishing industry—and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people—hangs in the balance.
