HIBAPRESS-RABAT
Morocco has interrupted fishing in the EU and is waiting to see what will become of this alternative for the future because even Senegal has seen its agreement expire with the EU, knowing full well that fishing is sacred in the Senegal, considered a heritage that must be preserved at all costs
Indeed, fishing is a vital sector in Senegal, economically, but also culturally since it directly or indirectly supports around 600,000 Senegalese for a population of around 18 million.
The approximately 50,000 Senegalese fishermen who work mainly on traditional canoes constantly denounce competition from factory boats controlled by foreigners, to which they blame the scarcity of fish, except that boats flying European flags will stop fishing in Senegalese waters from Sunday 17 November at midnight.
Depending on the choice of the shipowners, these European boats will be able to continue to fish elsewhere, through the existence of agreements between the European Union and neighboring countries of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania or Cape Verde, after the non-renewal for the moment of an agreement between Brussels and Dakar.
The agreement is not being renewed for the moment due to “failures” notified on May 27 by the European Commission to the State of Senegal in the fight against illegal fishing.
The cessation of fishing in Senegalese waters will affect 18 Spanish and French boats, which fish for tropical tuna and hake.
