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Euronews
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Foreign overfishing driving Senegalese migrants to Spain, report finds
"If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe.' These are the words of Memedou Racine Seck, a Senegalese migrant and former fisherman. His experience underscores the findings of a new report that concludes that overfishing by foreign vessels is driving rising numbers of Senegalese to risk the world's deadliest migration route to Spain's Canary Islands. Seck told the non-profit Environmental Justice Foundation (EFJ), who authored the research, that 13 people died on board during his journey to Spain. Fishing is key to Senegal's economy, providing employment for some 3% of its workforce, and is central to the country's food security. But the livelihoods of small-scale Senegalese fishers face a growing threat from industrial fishing by foreign vessels which export most of their catch to markets in the EU and, increasingly, China. The report comes after two environmental NGOs, ClientEarth and Oceana, filed a lawsuit against the Spanish government last month accusing it of failing to investigate and sanction Spanish-flagged vessels suspected of illegal fishing practices off the coasts of Senegal and Guinea Bissau. The country's fish populations are threatened, the report found, citing modelling that suggests 57% of the species fished in Senegal are collapsing. It points to decades of overfishing by both industrial and small-scale fleets, as well as ballooning export volumes. Ships relying on bottom trawling, where vessels drag a weighted net across the ocean floor, are particularly damaging to marine ecosystems, and more than 90% of Senegal's industrial fishing fleet are bottom trawlers. The report concludes that overfishing and illegal fishing are depleting fish populations, exacerbating food insecurity and driving up poverty. In turn, this is pushing people to take their chances with the perilous crossing from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands. The number of irregular migrant arrivals to Spain reached a record of 63,970 in 2024, according data from Spain's interior ministry — more than double the figure from 2022. The majority arrived in the Canary Islands, where arrivals soared by 200% between 2022 and 2024. Senegal is among the top three nationalities of arrivals to the islands. Rising numbers of people are attempting the journey, despite the route from West Africa to the Canary Islands being among the most dangerous crossings in the world. A total of 3,176 migrants are estimated to have died trying to cross from Senegal to the Canary Islands in 2023, according to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras. In August 2023, a boat was discovered drifting off the coast of Cape Verde, having left Fass Boye, a coastal fishing community in Senegal, a month before. There were only 38 reported survivors among the 101 people on board. Modou Boye Seck, who lost his 'sons, nephews, and grandson in this tragedy', blamed Senegal's fishing crisis. He told the EFJ: 'No boats go to sea lately. And that's the difficulties the young people are dealing with, and it caused this tragic death upon them, and that's the most heartbreaking thing.' Karim Sall, President of AGIRE, a Senegalese organisation operating in the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected area, expressed his anger at the impact foreign overfishing was having on coastal communities. 'I get so angry when [foreign nations] complain about immigration because they are the real pirates and what they did is worse than clandestine immigration," he said. 'We are risking our life to go, but they come here to steal our fish. It's theft — plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer.' The report outlines key recommendations to the Senegalese government, the EU, and industrial fishing entities operating in Senegalese waters, to deal with the crisis facing Senegal's fisheries and cut the numbers making the crossings. It calls for more robust governance and transparency to support Senegal's fishing sector and the communities that rely on it. Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the EFJ, stressed the myriad impacts of the crisis facing Senegal's fishing sector. 'Small-scale fishers face overwhelming competition from industrial vessels, leading to deteriorating living conditions, diminished food security, and lost livelihoods. The consequences are far-reaching, contributing to a troubling increase in migrant deaths at sea.' He urged the European authorities to 'end this now, and return Senegal's fisheries to the people of Senegal'.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Foreign Trawlers Plunder Senegalese Waters, Driving Small Fishers to Migrate to Spain
A foreign fleet of industrial trawlers is exhausting fish stocks in Senegal, driving artisanal fishers to undertake a difficult, and sometimes deadly, migration to Spain. That is the finding of a new report, from the U.K.-based Environmental Justice Foundation, based on interviews across Senegal and the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago that has become a destination for struggling fishers. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated trawling is increasingly depleting fisheries, with much of the loss driven by foreign firms. Nearly half of Senegalese fishing vessels are now owned by foreign companies, predominantly Spanish and Chinese, and most of the industrial catch is being shipped overseas, largely to Europe and China. Fishing is a critical sector of the Senegalese economy, supporting around 3 percent of the workforce while supplying an important source of food. But with a surge in industrial trawling, 57 percent of the fish populations being harvested in Senegal are now in a state of collapse. 'I worked as a fisherman for almost 10 years. When I first started, the sea was abundant. But over the years, things became so hard, little by little,' said Idrisa Seye, a former fisher who migrated to the Canary Islands to support his family at home. 'Imagine someone leaving Senegal despite the fact that Senegal is so good, and leaving your family behind despite how dear they are to you.' The number of migrants crossing from West Africa to the Canary Islands has risen more than a hundredfold in recent years, going from around 400 people in 2017 to more than 46,000 last year. Those interviewed for the report said the decline of fishing was a key driver. Said one Senegalese man, Memedou Racine Seck, 'If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe.' Senegalese migrants are making the trek at great personal risk as the migration route from West Africa to the Canaries is among the most treacherous in the world. In 2023 alone, more than 3,000 people died while attempting the crossing from Senegal. In one particularly grim episode, a ship bearing 101 people was found adrift near Cape Verde — with only 38 people still alive. 'I lost my sons, nephews, and grandson in this tragedy,' said Modou Boye Seck, a Senegalese man who had family aboard the ship. He blamed the loss on the fishing crisis in Senegal. 'No boats go to sea lately. And that's the difficulties the young people are dealing with, and it caused this tragic death upon them, and that's the most heartbreaking thing.' U.S. Aid Cuts Are Hitting Global Conservation Projects Hard
13-05-2025
- Politics
Foreign overfishing in Senegal fuels migration to Spain, a report finds
DAKAR, Senegal -- Overfishing by foreign vessels is decimating fish stocks in the West African country of Senegal, which is in turn fueling migration to Spain, according to a report released Tuesday. The Environmental Justice Foundation, a London-based group specializing in environmental and human rights issues, said illegal overfishing and destructive practices by foreign vessels are responsible for increased irregular migration to Spain. It based its conclusions on interviews with fishermen in Spain and Senegal and its prior research on foreign overfishing. The group found that 57% of fish stocks in Senegal are in a 'state of collapse,' with foreign vessels playing a significant role in declining numbers. Its analysis showed 43.7% of licensed vessels in Senegal are foreign-controlled, predominantly of Spanish and Chinese origin. As fish populations dwindle, local fishermen are facing income loss, and many have turned to migration as a last resort. Fishing is an important economic sector in Senegal that employs 3% of the workforce. Irregular migration to the Canary Islands almost doubled in 2024, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry, reaching 46,843. While exact figures aren't known due to a lack of information on departures from West Africa, Senegal is one of the top three nationalities of arrivals to the Spanish islands. The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest in the world. The Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims were in the thousands last year. Migrants and former fishermen in the Canary Islands told the Environmental Justice Foundation that the treacherous journey to Spain was a last resort, a way to provide for families when fishing in Senegal could no longer put food on the table. 'If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe,' said Memedou Racine Seck. Local activists in Senegal have voiced their frustration with foreign overfishing and its contribution to the migration crisis. Karim Sall, President of AGIRE, a Senegalese organization operating in the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected area, condemned foreign nations for their role in the crisis. 'I get so angry when (foreign nations) complain about immigration because they are the real pirates and what they did is worse than clandestine immigration. It's theft, plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer,' said Sall. Industrial foreign fleets, many of which use bottom trawling techniques, are exacerbating the crisis. These vessels drag heavy nets across the seafloor, indiscriminately catching young fish and destroying marine ecosystems like seagrass and coral reefs, which are vital for fish reproduction. As a result, fish stocks are unable to recover, deepening the hardships of local fishing communities and eaters. Fish plays an important role in food security in Senegal, especially for protein consumption. Due to declining fish stocks, consumption per capita in Senegal has fallen from 29 kilograms per year to 17.8 kilograms per person. The report also pointed to a lack of transparency in fishing licenses and inadequate government management of fisheries as contributing factors. Despite efforts by the Senegalese government to address the crisis, experts warn that without stricter regulations on industrial foreign fleets, the situation will worsen. Migrant and former fisherman Souleymane Sady, who arrived in the Canary Islands in 2020, summed up the situation fishermen in Senegal face: 'Since the government cannot regulate the boats and we cannot work normally, we choose to run away from the country to come for stability,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
13-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Foreign overfishing in Senegal fuels migration to Spain, a report finds
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Overfishing by foreign vessels is decimating fish stocks in the West African country of Senegal, which is in turn fueling migration to Spain, according to a report released Tuesday. The Environmental Justice Foundation, a London-based group specializing in environmental and human rights issues, said illegal overfishing and destructive practices by foreign vessels are responsible for increased irregular migration to Spain. It based its conclusions on interviews with fishermen in Spain and Senegal and its prior research on foreign overfishing. The group found that 57% of fish stocks in Senegal are in a 'state of collapse,' with foreign vessels playing a significant role in declining numbers. Its analysis showed 43.7% of licensed vessels in Senegal are foreign-controlled, predominantly of Spanish and Chinese origin. As fish populations dwindle, local fishermen are facing income loss, and many have turned to migration as a last resort. Fishing is an important economic sector in Senegal that employs 3% of the workforce. Irregular migration to the Canary Islands almost doubled in 2024, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry, reaching 46,843. While exact figures aren't known due to a lack of information on departures from West Africa, Senegal is one of the top three nationalities of arrivals to the Spanish islands. The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest in the world. The Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims were in the thousands last year. Migrants and former fishermen in the Canary Islands told the Environmental Justice Foundation that the treacherous journey to Spain was a last resort, a way to provide for families when fishing in Senegal could no longer put food on the table. 'If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe,' said Memedou Racine Seck. Local activists in Senegal have voiced their frustration with foreign overfishing and its contribution to the migration crisis. Karim Sall, President of AGIRE, a Senegalese organization operating in the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected area, condemned foreign nations for their role in the crisis. 'I get so angry when (foreign nations) complain about immigration because they are the real pirates and what they did is worse than clandestine immigration. It's theft, plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer,' said Sall. Industrial foreign fleets, many of which use bottom trawling techniques, are exacerbating the crisis. These vessels drag heavy nets across the seafloor, indiscriminately catching young fish and destroying marine ecosystems like seagrass and coral reefs, which are vital for fish reproduction. As a result, fish stocks are unable to recover, deepening the hardships of local fishing communities and eaters. Fish plays an important role in food security in Senegal, especially for protein consumption. Due to declining fish stocks, consumption per capita in Senegal has fallen from 29 kilograms per year to 17.8 kilograms per person. The report also pointed to a lack of transparency in fishing licenses and inadequate government management of fisheries as contributing factors. Despite efforts by the Senegalese government to address the crisis, experts warn that without stricter regulations on industrial foreign fleets, the situation will worsen. Migrant and former fisherman Souleymane Sady, who arrived in the Canary Islands in 2020, summed up the situation fishermen in Senegal face: 'Since the government cannot regulate the boats and we cannot work normally, we choose to run away from the country to come for stability,' he said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Foreign overfishing in Senegal fuels migration to Spain, a report finds
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Overfishing by foreign vessels is decimating fish stocks in the West African country of Senegal, which is in turn fueling migration to Spain, according to a report released Tuesday. The Environmental Justice Foundation, a London-based group specializing in environmental and human rights issues, said illegal overfishing and destructive practices by foreign vessels are responsible for increased irregular migration to Spain. It based its conclusions on interviews with fishermen in Spain and Senegal and its prior research on foreign overfishing. The group found that 57% of fish stocks in Senegal are in a 'state of collapse,' with foreign vessels playing a significant role in declining numbers. Its analysis showed 43.7% of licensed vessels in Senegal are foreign-controlled, predominantly of Spanish and Chinese origin. As fish populations dwindle, local fishermen are facing income loss, and many have turned to migration as a last resort. Fishing is an important economic sector in Senegal that employs 3% of the workforce. Irregular migration to the Canary Islands almost doubled in 2024, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry, reaching 46,843. While exact figures aren't known due to a lack of information on departures from West Africa, Senegal is one of the top three nationalities of arrivals to the Spanish islands. The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest in the world. The Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims were in the thousands last year. Migrants and former fishermen in the Canary Islands told the Environmental Justice Foundation that the treacherous journey to Spain was a last resort, a way to provide for families when fishing in Senegal could no longer put food on the table. 'If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe,' said Memedou Racine Seck. Local activists in Senegal have voiced their frustration with foreign overfishing and its contribution to the migration crisis. Karim Sall, President of AGIRE, a Senegalese organization operating in the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected area, condemned foreign nations for their role in the crisis. 'I get so angry when (foreign nations) complain about immigration because they are the real pirates and what they did is worse than clandestine immigration. It's theft, plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer,' said Sall. Industrial foreign fleets, many of which use bottom trawling techniques, are exacerbating the crisis. These vessels drag heavy nets across the seafloor, indiscriminately catching young fish and destroying marine ecosystems like seagrass and coral reefs, which are vital for fish reproduction. As a result, fish stocks are unable to recover, deepening the hardships of local fishing communities and eaters. Fish plays an important role in food security in Senegal, especially for protein consumption. Due to declining fish stocks, consumption per capita in Senegal has fallen from 29 kilograms per year to 17.8 kilograms per person. The report also pointed to a lack of transparency in fishing licenses and inadequate government management of fisheries as contributing factors. Despite efforts by the Senegalese government to address the crisis, experts warn that without stricter regulations on industrial foreign fleets, the situation will worsen. Migrant and former fisherman Souleymane Sady, who arrived in the Canary Islands in 2020, summed up the situation fishermen in Senegal face: 'Since the government cannot regulate the boats and we cannot work normally, we choose to run away from the country to come for stability,' he said. ____ Follow AP's Africa coverage at: Jack Thompson, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
