The European Union has decided not to renew its fishing agreement with Dakar, citing concerns over the proliferation of illegal fishing in the Senegalese waters. The decision, announced by the EU delegation in Senegal, emphasized concerns over Dakar’s control of both local and foreign vessels, especially those based in the capital. The EU had earlier criticized Senegal for not doing enough to control the illegal fishing going on within its waters. The current agreement, which ends on Sunday, has been denounced for contributing to overfishing and straining local fish stocks. However, the EU has denied these allegations, claiming that European vessels account for less than 1% of total catches in Senegalese waters over the past five years. Nevertheless, local fishermen, who struggle to compete with large foreign trawlers, remain skeptical. The Senegalese government has yet to officially respond to the EU’s decision.
SOURCE: AFRICA NEWS