Senegal, Spain sign deal to tackle illegal fishing
Partnership comes after EU suspended fisheries cooperation with Senegal
SENEGAL – Senegal and Spain have entered into a new cooperation agreement to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, a persistent issue affecting the West African country’s marine resources and fishing industry.
The memorandum of understanding was announced during President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s official visit to Madrid, where discussions focused on improving oversight and long-term management of fisheries.
Under the deal, both countries plan to work together on training, scientific research, governance reforms, and the sustainable use of marine resources within Senegal’s fishing sector.
In addition, Spain is expected to support Senegal in strengthening systems for monitoring, inspection, traceability, and enforcement of regulations against illegal fishing.
Illegal fishing remains a significant challenge in Senegal, where weak maritime surveillance and limited transparency have allowed practices such as unauthorised entry of foreign vessels, unreported catches, and at-sea transshipments to persist.
These activities have placed growing pressure on fish stocks and affected the livelihoods of more than 600,000 people employed in the sector, despite fishing contributing less than 5% to the country’s GDP.
According to a 2024 strategic report, nearly half of the industrial and semi-industrial vessels linked to illegal fishing operations globally are found in African waters.
Economic impact and policy pressure
Estimates from a 2016 study by the United States Agency for International Development and its partners indicate that Senegal loses around US$300 million annually due to illegal fishing, though current figures are likely higher given recent developments.
This agreement with Spain follows the suspension of Senegal’s fisheries partnership with the European Union, which expired in November 2024 after the country was flagged for inadequate control and traceability systems.
The decision led to the withdrawal of European vessels from Senegalese waters and the loss of financial support valued at US$9.77 million, alongside additional payments previously made by operators.
Although European fleets accounted for less than 1% of total reported catches, the arrangement had provided funding for monitoring, research, and resource management.
Restoring credibility in fisheries governance
Senegal’s government is now under pressure to demonstrate improvements in fisheries oversight to regain the confidence of international partners and protect access to export markets.
The partnership with Spain is expected to help address these gaps as Senegal works to improve compliance and management standards in the sector.
Senegal remains the second-largest fish producer in West Africa after Nigeria, with annual catches exceeding 500,000 tonnes since 2022, according to data compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization.
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