Senegal reconsiders fishing agreement with EU amidst changing dynamics in African fisheries

SENEGAL – Senegal is at a crossroads once again as it contemplates the future of its fishing agreement with the European Union (EU).

In the mid-2000s, the country faced significant opposition from small-scale fishers against a fishing deal with the EU, which allowed numerous industrial vessels to exploit various fish species in Senegalese waters.

The then-president succumbed to pressure and chose not to renew the agreement when it expired in 2006.

However, a subsequent administration signed a scaled-down version of the deal in 2014, permitting limited access to 36 tuna vessels and two trawlers – this agreement, extended in 2019, is now approaching its expiration in November.

The newly elected President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, campaigned on a promise to potentially suspend the existing deal.

While it remains uncertain whether President Faye will proceed with this plan, his stance reflects broader shifts in African fisheries, where the EU’s dominance has waned over time.

Since 1979, the EU has engaged in bilateral fisheries agreements, now termed Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs), with developing nations, particularly in Africa.

Under these agreements, European fishing companies gain access to foreign waters, while host countries receive financial compensation.

Over the past few decades, European catches in African waters have dwindled, leading to a reduction in the scale of SFPAs.

Mixed deals covering multiple species have declined, with a greater emphasis on tuna.

This shift is seen as a potential boon for local control over marine resources, particularly as mixed deals often negatively impact small-scale fishers.

However, concerns persist regarding the social and environmental implications of alternative arrangements pursued by African governments.

As several SFPAs are up for renegotiation this year, stakeholders are advocating for fairer and more sustainable fisheries arrangements.

Béatrice Gorez, coordinator of the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), emphasizes the importance of agreements that prioritize the rights of small-scale fishers and ensure transparent governance.

The EU currently has 11 active SFPAs with African nations, mostly focusing on tuna species. 

However, approximately half of the total catch comprises small pelagic fish like sardines, primarily from three large mixed deals, including those with Mauritania, Morocco, and Guinea Bissau.

SFPAs are subject to a degree of transparency, with NGO observers occasionally present during negotiations, and agreements published post-signing by the EU.

However, concerns persist regarding the equitable distribution of access fees and the allocation of sectoral support funds.

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