In Senegal, the disappearance of fish is not just an environmental issue—it’s a human crisis. For fishermen like Ibrahima Mar, it has meant losing both income and family stability.
Mar, from a fishing community in Rufisque, says the sea no longer provides as it once did. Fish stocks have dropped sharply, making it much harder to earn a living. What used to take a couple of months to catch now takes up to half a year.
Several factors are behind this decline. Large industrial fishing vessels—often difficult to trace—are taking huge amounts of fish, sometimes illegally. Practices like fishing in protected areas and using banned equipment are making things worse. A report by Environmental Justice Foundation found that more than half of Senegal’s fish populations are steadily shrinking.
At the same time, more people are turning to small-scale fishing because it requires little training, increasing pressure on already limited resources. Climate change is also pushing fish farther away, making them harder to catch.
The impact goes beyond fishermen. Thousands of people—fish sellers, processors, and transport workers—depend on the fishing industry. For many, like local fishmonger Fatou Seck, this work is the only way to support their families.
Fishing is deeply tied to Senegal’s culture, especially among groups like the Lebou people. Now, there are fears the country might even need to import fish in the future.
Efforts are being made to fight illegal fishing, including new technologies like satellite tracking and smartphone reporting. Mar himself has learned how to use these tools to help protect local waters.
But for him, the crisis is deeply personal. One of his sons has migrated to Spain, another died at sea, and he has encouraged his third son to learn a different trade.
In simple terms, as fish disappear, entire ways of life are at risk—forcing families to adapt, struggle, and sometimes leave everything behind.
Source: TRT Africa
