In Senegal‘s Saloum Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, women are the backbone of a traditional shellfish and fish harvesting industry vital to the region’s economy. Despite their central role, these workers navigate treacherous waterways and mangrove forests with limited resources and face persistent safety risks, including a history of fatal accidents. As the harvesting season resumes following a six-month biological rest, a closer look reveals the challenges and resilience of these Senegalese women and the urgent need for increased support to ensure the sustainability of their livelihoods.
In the heart of the Saloum Delta, women are navigating the intricate waterways and mangrove forests to support their livelihoods. Organized into economic interest groups and local unions, these women are heavily involved in processing fish and shellfish, traveling miles by makeshift canoes to reach productive areas. Despite their resilience, the industry faces significant challenges, hindering its growth.
The Saloum Delta’s rich marine ecosystem provides a vital source of income for many women who brave the region’s estuaries and mangrove swamps. Often working in precarious conditions, they venture into the dense mangrove forests, consistently working the winding waterways of Toubacouta, Némabah, Sokone, Bettenty, and Palmarin – villages located deep within the Saloum Islands, specifically in the communes of Bassoul, Djirnda, and Dionewar.
The work is physically demanding, but it offers a path to economic independence for these women. They skillfully harvest oysters, clams, and other mollusks from the dense mangrove forests, a task that is now resuming after a six-month biological rest period that began in June 2025. Women in the commune of Toubacouta are already returning to work.
“This timing coincides with the resumption of activities,” said Gnima Diouf, a member of the economic interest group “Ndiof-Nanor” (Entente). Diouf, a native of Némabah (Toubacouta commune), is part of the group, which has grown from 25 members in 2007 to 60 women involved in oyster farming and market gardening. This expansion reflects the strong camaraderie within the sector.
Throughout the Delta, women collaborate, pooling resources and experience to purchase fuel and rent boats to access their “natural office” within the mangrove. This cooperative spirit is essential for navigating the challenges of the industry.
However, the work is fraught with difficulties and dangers. The geography of the islands and the location of productive areas make the work inherently risky. Traveling through the waterways, often bordered by dense mangrove, presents a constant obstacle. While some islands are connected by land, navigation remains the primary means of transportation between villages.
Despite support from organizations like the Institute of Cooperation for Development in Africa (Icd/Afrique), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Fao), the National Aquaculture Agency (Ana), and the International Development Cooperation Society (Socodevi), the sector continues to struggle. According to Diouf, women frequently face accidents while working, a testament to the arduous nature of the job.
The memories of a tragic incident in 2017, when a canoe capsized near Bettenty, resulting in the deaths of around 20 women returning from a shellfish gathering trip, remain vivid. This tragedy echoes a similar event in the 1970s, where approximately 40 women perished in the waters, according to Diouf – double the number lost in the 2017 disaster.
The risks persist today, and without adequate support, these women rely on limited resources to sustain their livelihoods. The industry is currently struggling, despite the efforts of its partners. Women endure significant physical strain, often suffering cuts and scrapes from the sharp marine environment.
Soda Sédi, a resident of Dassilamé Sérère village in the Toubacouta commune and a member of the Inter-Village Development Association (Aivd), which comprises 180 members across four villages, lamented the lack of support. “This work is too hard. We really need more assistance. The lack of equipment is still a problem,” she said.
Sédi explained that it’s not uncommon to accidentally fall into holes dug by fish on the seabed, forcing workers to discard their entire harvest to avoid falling in. These “bolongs” – natural, deep passages – pose a constant threat.
In more remote areas like Thiallane, Bassar, Siwo, Ngadior, and Falia, located in the communes of Bassoul, Djirnda, and Dionewar, dedicated women continue to work despite limited access to support. Reaching these villages is challenging for outsiders, hindering the delivery of aid and projects.
In Thiallane, the activity is particularly subdued, often carried out by elderly women. Three or four women paddle slowly in a handmade canoe towards the harvesting areas, a stark illustration of the lack of resources available in this part of the Saloum Islands. This situation underscores the precariousness of the industry and the decline in participation compared to the past.
Despite the challenges, this work provides a crucial safety net for many. The case highlights the need for increased investment and support to ensure the sustainability of this vital industry and the safety of the women who depend on it.
El Hadj Fode SARR (correspondent)
