PIKINE – Senegalese authorities are stepping up efforts to protect juvenile fish populations as the nation prepares to host a major international conservation conference next year. The increased vigilance comes after a recent seizure of over 2,500 juvenile fish, primarily anchovies, at the Mbao fishing pier on March 17 and 18.
Officials from the Directorate of Community Marine Protected Areas (DAMCP), in collaboration with the Regional Fisheries Inspection, intercepted the illegal catch. The move underscores Senegal’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices ahead of the 6th International Congress on Marine Protected Areas (IMPAC6), scheduled to begin next week in Somone.
On March 19, Cheikh Fall, Director of Maritime Fisheries, and Colonel Mamour Sow, Director of DAMCP, met with local fish processors – primarily women – at the Mbao pier to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of juvenile fish harvesting. The practice threatens the reproductive capacity of fish species and the long-term availability of resources.
“Last year, we sensitized stakeholders on the disastrous consequences of illegal juvenile fishing. But unfortunately, the problem persists,” Colonel Sow said during the meeting. He announced that reinforcements from the Grande Niaye reserve have been deployed to address staffing shortages within the Community Marine Protected Area.
DAMCP officials affirmed that collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy will be strengthened to combat the issue. “Juveniles are the first link in the food chain, even if they are not highly prized in our tropics. But it is important to grasp that it is one of the essential links in the trophic chain,” Colonel Sow added.
Director Fall explained to those gathered at the Mbao pier that fishing for, possessing, and selling juvenile fish are all prohibited by regulation. He noted that those involved in the recent infraction acknowledged their wrongdoing and requested leniency. “Recommendations were made, and I believe they will not fall on deaf ears,” Fall said.
Fall also urged fishermen to refrain from using non-compliant nets, emphasizing that utilizing regulated filaments is one solution to the ongoing problem. The case highlights the challenges Senegal faces in balancing economic needs with the preservation of its marine ecosystems. Senegal was designated to host the 6th edition of the International Congress on Marine Protected Areas (IMPAC6) during the IMPAC5 in Vancouver in February 2023, marking the first time the event will be held in Africa. The Directorate of Community Marine Protected Areas (DAMCP) is leading preparations for the congress.
The country has expanded its network of marine protected areas from seven to 17 since the directorate was established in 2012, with an 18th area currently in development in Keur Saloum Diané, Fatick region, according to Agence de Presse Sénégalaise.
