Overfishing in Senegal: A Deep Dive into the Livelihood of Coastal Communities

Abstract

Artisanal fisheries workers in Senegal have been witnessing the decline of their livelihoods for over a decade. Bilateral fishing agreements with the European Union have put great strain on marine resources to the detriment of local fishing communities. This thesis investigates the impact of overfishing on the livelihoods of artisanal fishery workers in Senegal, focusing on the intricate relationship between fishery management, unsustainable fishing practices, and the socio-economic conditions of small-scale fishery labourers. To address this, the study explores three key areas: the evolution of fisheries workers' livelihoods since the early 2000s to the present, the effectiveness of policies implemented by the Senegalese government to support artisanal workers, and the adaptive strategies these workers have employed in response to changes in the sector. Building on previous research that highlight the detrimental effects of foreign fishing agreements and illegal fleets on fish stocks, as well as the inadequacies of Senegalese fisheries management, this study seeks to deepen the understanding of how these factors manifest in the daily lives of artisanal workers. Through qualitative field research, including focus groups conducted in the regions of Dakar, Thiès, and Saint-Louis, the findings reveal that inadequate governmental policies, particularly the lack of surveillance mechanisms, have exacerbated the overexploitation of marine resources, forcing artisanal workers to adopt various (mal-)adaptation strategies to survive. The results also underscore the urgent need for more effective fisheries management and broader economic policies to safeguard the well-being of Senegal's artisanal fishery workers, whose livelihoods are increasingly threatened by the depletion of marine resources.