A new Greenpeace report, titled “Seasick: As COVID-19 locks down West Africa, its waters remain open to plunder,” has been released criticizing the governments of multiple countries for fishery policies that push out artisanal fishers.
The report names Senegal, Mauritania, and The Gambia as countries with governments allowing “systematic plunder of the oceans by foreign fishing vessels.” It specifically highlights the fishmeal and fish oil industries as factories processing the products have continued operating during lockdown even as local communities are receiving emergency food aid.
“West Africa’s declining fish stocks should be managed and secured, first and foremost to feed people in the region, especially at a time of looming food insecurity as well as a global biodiversity crisis,” Greenpeace Africa Political Advisor for Ocean Campaign Aliou Ba said in the release. “The world economy is in recession and the West African region is not spared. At the same time the fishmeal and fish oil industry is thriving, using local fish stocks to produce food for pets, pigs, and fish in the aquaculture industry around Europe and Asia at the expense of vulnerable populations in West Africa.”
The report is the latest instance this year of African countries facing foreign competition in local waters. In April, a Senegalese fishing association flagged the arrival of suspected Chinese trawler fleets, and Ghanaian fishermen were facing the same influx. Liberia, too, has had local fishermen decry the arrival of Chinese trawlers in local waters.
Senegal reportedly rejected the license applications of Chinese vessels, prior to an African summit with Chinese leaders back in June. However, Greenpeace claims it has secured information showing that Senegal licensed certain fishing vessels from China.
“Greenpeace found evidence confirming the issuing of fishing licenses to the Fu Yuan Yu 9885, Fu Yuan Yu 9886, Fu Yuan Yu 9888, and the Fu Yuan Yu 9889 on 17 April,” the nonprofit said. “The granting happened despite claims from the Senegalese Ministry of Fisheries on 6 June saying no new licenses for industrial fishing vessels had been granted.”
Greenpeace said it also found, based on a Global Fishing Watch investigation in 2016, that certain Chinese vessels were likely hiding automatic identification system tracking data.
“The vessels were seemingly making use of an old trick of disguising their location by manipulating their AIS data,” Greenpeace said.
It wouldn’t be the only instance of reported AIS issues on Chinese vessels this year. Analysis by U.S.-based HawkEye 360 found that Chinese vessels were routinely turning off their AIS systems hundreds of times in waters near Ecuador – contradicting the assertions of the Chinese ambassador to the country.
The Greenpeace report calls on the governments of the countries to do more to prevent foreign vessels from fishing in local waters, and for the shutdown of local factories relying on foreign-caught fish.
Photo courtesy of Curioso.Photography/Shutterstock
