The fishing crisis in Senegal is driving canoes to the Canary Islands.

Not all migrants traveling on the pirogues leaving Senegal for the Canary Islands are fishermen, but without them and their boats , the large influx of young people to Gran Canaria , Tenerife, or El Hierro would not be possible. For more than two decades, artisanal fishing, which supports 3% of the population, has been experiencing a profound crisis due to overfishing , illegal practices, lack of transparency, and poor management. The most profitable species present in the country's diet are becoming increasingly scarce, and irregular migration is emerging as both an alternative for young people and a business for fishing boat owners. A comprehensive report by the NGO Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), published this Tuesday, establishes the link between the two realities.

Traditional fishing is of vital importance in Senegal, not just economically. Its catches represent 68% of the animal-based foods consumed by the population, according to the aforementioned report, and it is also deeply rooted in the customs and identity of coastal communities. Not surprisingly, the national dish consumed almost daily, thieboudienne , is based on fish. However, in recent years, consumption has fallen from about 29 kilos per person per year to about 18. The scarcity of traditional pelagic species on the local market and their rising prices are a direct consequence of overfishing, especially industrial fishing, which exports to Asian and European markets, and the use of prohibited or highly aggressive techniques, such as trawling.

The great paradox is that fishing in Senegalese waters is increasing, rising from approximately 420,000 tons caught in 2010 to approximately 530,000 in 2019, according to this report. However, artisanal fishing boats aren't responsible for this increase, but rather large vessels from China, Turkey, or Europe, fishing under the Senegalese flag with a national license. "Catch figures haven't decreased, but sizes—that is, biomass—have. Almost all species are in a state of collapse," says Bassirou Diarra, a fisheries engineer and coordinator of the EJF in Senegal. "It's true that artisanal fishing has also grown [officially there are about 17,000 boats, but more realistic estimates put it at 22,000], but the impact of industrial fishing is much greater," he adds.

Catch figures haven't decreased, but sizes—that is, biomass—have. Almost all species are in danger of collapse.

Bassirou Diarra, Fisheries Engineer and EJF Coordinator in Senegal

The report concludes that industrial fishing is primarily responsible for overfishing. But who is to blame? A year ago, the new Senegalese authorities published the list of authorized industrial fishing vessels. And the information it contained was more than revealing. In total, there were 151 authorized vessels, 19 of which were tuna vessels operating under the framework of European Union agreements and which are no longer operating following the non-renewal of that legal framework at the end of last year. Brussels decided to break the agreement precisely because, according to European authorities, Senegal was a "non-cooperating country" in the fight against illegal fishing, with numerous deficiencies in "the monitoring, management, and surveillance systems" of Senegalese and foreign vessels.

However, the problem of overfishing falls on the rest: 132 Senegalese-flagged vessels, 45% of which are actually in foreign hands, primarily Chinese and Spanish, and about 100 of which have entered these waters in the last five years. “The underlying problem is the lack of management of the sector and opacity. Our fishing comes from the colonial system in which the important thing was to produce and produce without control. The very notion of resource management didn't emerge until 1998, when the importance of introducing corrective measures began to be discussed. Two examples: many artisanal vessels use prohibited plastic nets, such as monofilament, and trawling of large vessels is authorized despite the enormous damage it causes,” the expert adds.

Illegal practices

The report reveals that the lack of effective control over the activity of industrial vessels leads many of them to engage in practices such as the use of modified nets, incursions into areas reserved for artisanal vessels, the capture of juvenile or immature fish, changing names to evade registration, or disabling tracking systems (which monitor their location or route in real time), as well as unloading on the high seas. Between January and July 2024 alone, Senegalese authorities intercepted 24 vessels for some of these offenses, revealing the extent of these illegal practices.

“The government has sold the entire sea to the big boats,” says migrant and former fisherman Idrisa Seye in an interview published in the EJF report. “Sometimes you might be fishing in an area and suddenly find yourself surrounded by six or seven boats. They can easily get caught in your nets and take them with them. Every catch you were supposed to make, those boats take. And they fish all day long, day and night. They never stop. So all the fish we were supposed to catch, they take at night. Or if you leave your nets up at night, you come back and see that they've taken everything. They sail away with your nets,” he protests.

The Government has sold all the sea to large ships

Idrisa Seye, former Senegalese fisherman

In Kayar, one of the country's main fishing spots, desolation reigns. Kayak owners complain that most of the young people have emigrated and that there are hardly any crew members left. The situation is identical in Saint Louis or Mbour. Nafi Kebé, a fish processor in Bargny, describes the situation. “There is nothing more frustrating for a young man who knows he has to help his mother than to end up being helped by her. These children depend on their mother for their daily expenses. We all depend on fish, but how can you help your mother if the sea has no fish? Our children used to come back with a large catch, but now they spend up to 15 days at sea and catch nothing. They were our breadwinners, but now we help them,” she explains.

The new Senegalese government, the EJF acknowledges, has taken steps toward greater transparency by publishing the list of vessels operating in Senegalese waters, but much remains to be done. The foundation considers restoring fish stocks by eradicating illegal practices through more effective controls, including tougher penalties for those who break the law, a priority. In its view, artisanal fishing should have larger reserved areas. For its part, the foundation calls on the European Union to resume its collaboration with Senegal to ensure sustainable fisheries.

“Migrants leave for Europe for a variety of reasons, but fishermen play a huge role in the cayuco phenomenon. Most of the young people who were involved in this activity have left or are considering doing so, and this is because the sea no longer provides them with a livelihood. Both Senegalese and European authorities must work together to protect this activity, so that there is better management and transparency. We must protect coastal communities. In my opinion, there has been both a lack of political will and a shortage of resources,” concludes Bassirou Diarra.