By Omar Bah
European ambassador Jean-Marc Pisani has announced that European fishing vessels will cease operations in Senegalese waters due to the non-renewal of a fishing agreement that expires on November 17.
The European Commission cited concerns about illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as the reason for the non-renewal. This decision impacts 18 Spanish and French vessels that target tropical tuna and hake, species that do not compete significantly with the Senegalese fishing sector.
Fishing is vital in Senegal’s economy, supporting approximately 600,000 individuals, including 50,000 traditional fishermen who have expressed worries about competition from foreign vessels.
