The new Senegalese government has taken steps to combat illegal fishing along its coastline by publishing a list of authorized vessels to fish in the country’s national waters. Only 151 vessels, including 132 national and 19 foreign vessels, have been granted licenses to fish in Senegal. This move is part of the government’s commitment to transparency and the responsible management of public resources, following years of scrutiny for corrupt practices in the management of national fisheries.
Stakeholders have long called for an audit and publication of the list of fishing vessels authorized in Senegal to address irregularities in the issuance of fishing licenses that have disadvantaged artisanal fishing and national food security. Environmental campaign group Greenpeace Africa has welcomed the government’s decision to publish the list and has encouraged Senegal to continue on this path by joining the Fisheries Transparency Initiative to promote transparency and public disclosure of information on fisheries governance.
In response to the disclosure of the list of fishing vessels, the Senegalese Council of Ministers has called for strengthening the country’s Maritime Fishing Code to combat illegal fishing activities. President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye has also called for an inventory and evaluation of state intervention, subsidies, and funding in the fisheries sector, as well as prioritizing the renewal and security of the artisanal fisherfolk fleet. Poor governance of fisheries in Senegal has allowed illegal fishing activities to thrive, leading to economic losses and job insecurity in the sector.
