The fishing agreement between the European Union and Senegal expires on Sunday November 17, 2024. But the bloc says it will not be renewed due to “failures” on the part of Dakar.
The European Union has decided not to renew the fishing agreement with Senegal and to repatriate its vessels to Europe. This was indicated on Tuesday, November 13, by the Union delegation in Dakar.
This measure is in line with the EU’s zero tolerance policy towards fishing “undeclared and unregulated”according to the press release.
Failures in control…
The EU has identified Senegal as a “non-cooperative country” in the fight against illegal fishing at the start of the year. She cited “failures in monitoring, control and surveillance systems” Senegalese ships in extraterritorial waters; as well as foreign ships in the port of Dakar.
“Due to the shortcomings observed in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the EU cannot consider renewing the protocol until there is sufficient progress from Senegal in this area », Indicates the press release. “The protocol expires on November 17 and Senegal will no longer receive any financial contribution under the fisheries agreement,” he added.
8.5 million euros for the Senegalese state budget
The former French colony and the EU have been fishing partners since the early 1980s. But the current agreement, signed in 2019, allows European vessels to fish mainly tuna and black hake in the waters. Senegalese. It has contributed 8.5 million euros to the Senegalese state budget over the past five years, according to EU figures.
While some in Senegal, where fish stocks are depleting due to overfishing, criticize the deal, the EU says its vessels’ catches represent less than 1% of total catches made and reported. in Senegalese waters. L’Associated Press cited “many local fishermen” who struggle to compete with foreign industrial trawlers and struggle to catch enough fish to make a living.
Renegotiate to improve food security
Last May, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced an audit of the fishing sector and the agreement with the EU, which he had promised to renegotiate as part of efforts to restore marine resources and limit industrial fishing, in order to improve the country’s food security. Elected in March, Mr. Faye described himself as “complicated” current cooperation between Dakar and the EU and called for a reassessment.
