Its failure to get to grips with illegal fishing has resulted in Senegal being given a yellow card by the European Commission. Although this does not affect trade with the EU, the yellow card is a warning signal and provides a window of opportunity to take measures before the yellow card gets upgraded to red – which would shut off the EU market to Senegal’s seafood exports.
In its analysis, the EU Commission has pre-identified Senegal as a non-cooperating country in the fight against IUU fishing. This decision is based on serious shortcomings detected over the last years in the system that the country has put in place for compliance with its international obligations as flag, port, coastal or market state.
Deficiencies identified in the monitoring, control and surveillance systems of Senegal relate to vessels flying the flag of Senegal and operating in waters outside the country’s jurisdiction, as well as in the controls carried out on foreign fishing vessels at the port of Dakar. In addition, illegal exports from Senegal to the EU market have been detected.
‘Senegal has so far not demonstrated sufficient willingness to cooperate with the Commission in fighting IUU fishing,’ according to the EU Commission, which states that with this decision, it initiates a formal dialogue with Senegal and makes clear its availability to support the country in the fight against IUU fishing.
‘Senegal plays an important role in fisheries governance in West Africa. The Commission acknowledges the recent actions taken by the new government (publication of the list of fishing licences, and the audit of the fishing fleet) and it is reassured by this,’ said commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.
‘Therefore, we stand ready to cooperate actively with the country in the fight against IUU fishing, and in particular to help the country remedy the situation and address the threats that IUU fishing poses to the sustainability of fish stocks, coastal communities, food security and the livelihoods of fishers who abide by the rules.’
