Fish stocks in Senegal

Описание: Everyday life for Senegalese fishermen is tough, but the effects of globalization make it even harder and threaten their livelihoods. With their small boats and simple equipment, artisanal fishing competes with industrial fishing operated by large foreign shipping fleets, which massively overfish the seas. For years, the government sold fishing licenses to foreigners. Fish stocks have declined to a devastating extent, although they form the basis of livelihood for a large part of the Senegalese population along the coast.

Senegalese agriculture, which provides a living for 70% of the population, is also suffering from dwindling yields as it is left with less and less exploitable land due to global climate change. Moreover, huge areas of land are being diverted to international companies and used for agricultural production whose yields are exported. The Senegalese population, however, does not benefit from the globalized markets.

It is a vicious circle: Farmers without land cannot sustain a family and so they become fishers. More fishermen result in more competition while fish stocks keep diminishing. The pressure on artisanal fishing is increasing and the exploitation of the sea by foreign deep sea fleets continues unabated at the cost of local livelihoods. The threat to their livelihoods and the lack of prospects mean that more and more Senegalese are fleeing their country to build a livelihood elsewhere.

Listen to how the Senegalese perceive their living conditions and what the ministry of fisheries has to say about it.