West African nations lose about CFA 170 billion (USD 357.2, EUR 259.2) to “pirate fishing” by North Korea every year, according to a Sub Regional Fisheries Commission’s report released to the African Press Agency on Monday. West African exports of fish products to the world market has declined from USD 500 million (EUR 362.8 million) in the early 1980s to USD 250 million (EUR 181.4 million) today, the study reveals.
Although they are renewable resources, they are becoming scarce and expensive due to harsh realities of the market and overfishing by foreign vessels, especially North Koreans, whose 200 trawlers illegally fish in African waters every year, the report claims.
