At the heart of the bustling streets of Dakar, the Senegalese capital bathed in the West African sun, lies a vital sector of the local economy and culture: fishing. It is an ancestral practice that provides livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of Senegalese people, but faces increasing challenges due to declining fish stocks and pressure from industrial fishing.
Senegal’s new authorities have recently decided to tackle these problems head on, putting in place measures to protect artisanal fishing and combat illegal practices that undermine the sustainability of marine resources. This sector, which employs more than 600,000 people according to the UN, is essential to the country’s food security and social cohesion, but it faces major challenges.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched a call for an audit of the fishing sector, seeking to highlight fraudulent practices and strengthen control systems. He also insisted on the need to reassess the fishing agreements and licenses in force, by implementing a revision of the maritime fishing code to guarantee sustainable exploitation of resources.
Among the measures that could be taken are the repair of outboard motors used by fishing canoes, but also by migrant boats trying to reach Europe. Thiaroye-sur-Mer, a starting point for many travelers in search of better prospects, is witness to this dual reality which highlights the complex challenges facing Senegal.
In addition, the president asked the government to implement an emergency program aimed at reviving artisanal fishing and developing the industrial fishing sector. This will require a holistic approach, engaging the whole of Senegalese society, from fishermen to authorities to civil society, to build a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
Thus, fishing in Senegal, much more than a simple economic activity, is a precious cultural heritage which deserves to be preserved and valued. By taking courageous measures today, the Senegalese authorities are laying the foundations for more responsible management of marine resources, thus guaranteeing the sustainability of this vital sector for future generations.