A damning new report has revealed how illegal and destructive fishing by foreign vessels is devastating Senegal’s marine ecosystem and directly fueling the wave of irregular migration to Spain. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), a London-based nonprofit, released the findings on Tuesday, linking dwindling fish stocks to the desperate journeys thousands of Senegalese make to the Canary Islands in search of a better life.
According to the report, 57% of Senegal’s fish stocks are in a “state of collapse,” with foreign vessels—mainly from China and Spain—playing a leading role. These industrial ships, often using destructive bottom trawling methods, are depleting marine life, destroying underwater ecosystems, and leaving local fishermen with no means of livelihood. As a result, migration has become, for many, the only path to survival.
Fish Scarcity and Economic Hardship
Fishing is a cornerstone of Senegal’s economy, employing around 3% of the workforce and serving as a primary source of protein for the population. But with fish populations plummeting, local fishermen are losing income and struggling to feed their families.
The EJF report, based on interviews with fishermen in both Senegal and Spain, paints a picture of desperation. Former fisherman Memedou Racine Seck, now living in the Canary Islands, told researchers, “If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe.”
Per capita fish consumption in Senegal has fallen drastically—from 29 kilograms per year to just 17.8 kilograms, signaling a serious decline in food security. For many, the sea, once a source of sustenance and pride, has become barren, leading to a painful choice: stay and starve, or risk everything to migrate.
Irregular Migration on the Rise
Senegal is now among the top three nationalities of irregular migrants arriving in Spain’s Canary Islands, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry. In 2024 alone, irregular migration to the Canary Islands nearly doubled, with 46,843 arrivals recorded.
The Atlantic migration route, which spans from West Africa to Spain, is one of the deadliest in the world. Thousands are believed to have died making the journey, according to the Spanish migrant advocacy group Walking Borders.
Despite the dangers, the route remains active. Migrants say they are driven not by ambition, but by necessity. The EJF report underscores this point, highlighting that the collapse of fisheries is not only an environmental issue—it is a humanitarian crisis with international implications.
“Since the government cannot regulate the boats and we cannot work normally, we choose to run away from the country to come for stability,” said Souleymane Sady, a migrant and former fisherman who arrived in Spain in 2020.
Foreign Fleets and Ecological Destruction
At the heart of the problem are foreign-controlled vessels, which make up 43.7% of all licensed fishing boats in Senegal, the EJF report found. These ships, primarily Chinese and Spanish, engage in industrial-scale fishing that local communities cannot compete with.
Worse still, many of these vessels use bottom trawling—a method where heavy nets are dragged across the seabed. This technique indiscriminately catches juvenile fish and destroys critical marine habitats, such as seagrass beds and coral reefs, which are essential for fish reproduction and biodiversity.
The result is a vicious cycle: fish stocks are unable to recover, local fishermen have fewer catches, and the marine ecosystem suffers long-term damage.
Local Voices Cry Out
In coastal communities like Joal-Fadiouth, the frustration is palpable. Karim Sall, president of the local organization AGIRE, did not mince words in blaming foreign countries for contributing to the migration crisis.
“I get so angry when [foreign nations] complain about immigration because they are the real pirates,” Sall said. “What they did is worse than clandestine immigration. It’s theft—plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer.”
His remarks reflect growing anger among Senegalese who feel their government has failed to protect national waters and allowed powerful foreign interests to exploit them unchecked.
Governance, Transparency, and Solutions
The EJF report also pointed to a lack of transparency in the fishing licensing process and inadequate enforcement of fisheries regulations as key enablers of the crisis. While the Senegalese government has made public efforts to address the problem—such as increasing patrols and suspending illegal licenses—experts warn that without stricter regulation of foreign industrial fleets, the situation is likely to worsen.
“There is a real need for reform,” the report states. “Protecting small-scale fishermen and ensuring sustainable practices must be prioritized if we are to preserve marine biodiversity and reduce forced migration.”
The EJF recommends:
- Banning destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling in key coastal areas.
- Enhancing transparency in licensing agreements and vessel ownership.
- Strengthening local enforcement capacity to monitor illegal activity.
- Supporting small-scale fishers with sustainable fishing equipment and access to regulated markets.
A Global Responsibility
While the crisis unfolds in Senegal, its consequences are global. Migration flows affect European borders, foreign industrial fishing benefits overseas markets, and ecological degradation contributes to climate vulnerability.
The EJF has called on Spain and China to take greater responsibility for the actions of their fishing fleets and to cooperate with Senegal in creating a fairer, more sustainable fishing economy.
“If we want to address the root causes of migration, we must start by addressing the economic injustices that drive it,” said an EJF spokesperson.
As Senegal continues to lose its fish and its fishermen, the stakes grow higher. The ocean, once a source of hope, is now a battleground for livelihoods, sovereignty, and survival.
