The Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA) has accused Senegal of violating an existing five-year fishing protocol it signed with the European Union in July 2019.
CEPESCA said the West African country has refused to issue permits to the country’s pole-and-line fleet, which has remained moored in the Senegalese port of Dakar since the beginning of 2022. The moored fleet, CEPESCA said, is continuing to accrue operational expenses as the companies pay salaries for sailors and mechanics, port expenses, and licensing fees, despite being unable to earn any income.
The confederation called the situation inexplicable, and has urged the European Commission “to unblock the situation urgently and to defend the interests of European fishermen against third countries that, as in this case, and inexplicably, unilaterally breach a fishing agreement with the E.U.”
The Basque pole-and-line fleet in Senegalese waters, which is represented by Dakartuna, catches skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna. However, it has not been able to fish regularly for 21 months because the fleet has been prevented “from entering Han Bay and obtaining live bait to fish,” CEPESCA said.
Senegal Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy Alioun Ndoy said the country’s 1 January, 2022, decision to not issue new licenses to European vessels remained in place. The decision to lock out European vessels from accessing Senegalese fishing permits was reaffirmed on 25 March at a meeting of the Joint Commission between Senegal and the E.U. according to CEPESCA.