13.05
It's early morning in Joal (pronounced Joo-aal), a small fishing village in Senegal and every day fishermen, like Madadou Sene (pronounced without an e on the end), his children and crew, set out to sea.
13.21
Senegal's fishing industry is on the decline because her fish stocks are decreasing. The invasion of foreign trawlers means Senegalese fisherman are struggling to survive. A state of affairs which is threatening to devastate the entire region. With fewer fish in the sea the fisherman are resorting to making their money out of turtles. Many observers believe that soon in developing nations, fish will be a luxury.
14.00
For countries like Senegal, this would be a catastrophe. Fish is a fundamental part of their diet and their most important source of protein. Without fish there would be widespread hunger in Senegal.
14.17
Madadou Sene lives with his three wives and 20 children. As they now have to sell their dwindling catches to survive, fish to eat is becoming rarer.
14.26
Statement
Mamadou Sene
fisherman
There are now fewer fish and fewer kinds of fish compared to what we used to have. The big boats are catching everything. We've had accidents with foreign ships where they come too close to the coast and our nets got torn. Because most fishermen are illiterate the government does what it wants.
14.46
Mamadou Sene is referring to the EU supertrawlers who's governments recently paid the Senegalese state 13 million dollars, for the rights to fish in her waters for four years. 50% of that income was earmarked for the harbour's redevelopment and the local fishermen but they say they've received nothing.
15.08
Statement
José Luis
officer, Spanish fishing boat
We're very happy with the agreement between the EU and Senegal. I don't know anything about fisherman who are against the deal.
15.17
The Spanish are happy because three out of four trawlers here are from Spain. Attracted by the quality of the fish stocks they use ground dragging nets which damage the seabed and fish breeding grounds. The Senegalese people are seeing the source of their food damaged forever.
15.40
Statement
Diane Dially
fisheries minister
I assure you that the contract between the European Union and the Senegalese government was very responsibly negotiated. Fishing isn't a luxury for us, it means life or death.
15.57
But many Senegalese fisherman do feel the government is exploiting them by selling out to the Europeans.
16.05
Samba Gueye
National Federation of Fishermen
The fishing agreement should be cancelled immediately. We can't control it. There has to be research into the fish populations. Our fishermen here aren't profiting from the contract with the European Union.
16.23
According to the contract, the European trawlers are allowed to fish within Senegal's 300 mile territorial waters but must leave 12 kilometres to the 11'000 traditional fishing canoes. The EU trawlers are also required to employ local workers but the Senegalese authorities either lack the money or will power to enforce these conditions.
16.51
The indigenous fishermen are furious that it's becoming more and more difficult for them to earn their living.
16.58
Up to 50% of Senegal's coastal workforce are employed in the fishing industry. Any changes in fish stocks directly impacts upon the Senegalese nation.
17.07
Fisherman until recently say they used to need 24hrs to fill their boat with fish now they have to be at sea for up to 10 days to secure the same size catch.
17.23
Ismaila Doaw
fisherman
The fishermen who sided with the EU agreement are being paid by the government. There's less fish now. Of the 10 kinds of fish that we used to catch, there's only two kinds left for us. The supertrawlers fish until the sea's empty and then clear off. We don't get anything.
17.44
The export operation is in danger of destroying the countries subsistence economy. The supertrawlers are supposed to fish beyond the 12 k exclusion zone but as stocks diminish they're fishing closer to land. In the fight for fish there have been accidents between the Senegalese and European boats.
18.06
Statement
Mactar Gaye
fisherman
My canoe sunk after a collision with a Greek boat at three o'clock in the morning. We didn't have a light. I lost everything. I brought a court action against them, but it came to nothing.
18.27
Baye Fall Wade
fisherman
If we have a collision with one of the big ships they often turn their lights off so we can't recognise them and they can't be identified. We lose our boats, our nets - simply everything and we can't do anything about it.
18.42
Over 50 percent of fish consumed in Europe comes from third world countries. Around 1'000 trawlers from the EU regularly fish off the coast of Africa. The EU had negotiated 15 fishing agreements to secure valuable access to fish stocks but now some African countries are not renewing these agreements and are investing in their own industries. But it may be too late. The United Nations Food and Agricultural organisation estimate that 70% of conventional fish species may have been wiped at.
19.18
And a shortage of fish means price rises. In Senegal nearly one in three of the population are undernourished.
19.27
Statement
fish seller
Just before the rainy season there's a lack of fish, particularly sardines. The price is too high. I have to pay much more than I used to.
19.47
Some accuse the government of having no vision and say that in return for greater exports all they're creating is a nation of hungry people. But the government insist the fish stocks can cope.
20.00
Statement
Diane Dially
Fisheries minister
In many parts of the world, like in the European waters, there's hardly any fish left. Luckily, we still have fish stocks. The government takes responsibility to check them. But some species are causing us concern.
20.28
This is a survey ship which is funded by the European Union. It's official role is to regularly check the fish stocks near the Senegalese coastline.
But all the technology in the world can't account for how the data is used.
The Oceanographic Institute in Dakar only quotes data for processed fish and doesn't include the large quantities of undersized fish which are discarded. The total number of fish caught could be double the amount they quote throwing into doubt the whole basis for the EU contracts.
21.06
Meanwhile the European Union keeps a low profile and says their catch doesn't harm the local industry. But its clear to observers that fish in Senegal is becoming scarcer. When so much of the country survives on fish and fishing it seems a false economy and unwise at best to allow someone else to take their life blood away.
Ends 21.39
report: Marion Mayer-Hohdahl
camera: Jean-Pascal Bublex
vt cut: Grant Aerts
AKM
Beautiful World in Existence
Nr. 1 In the Beginning
1.58 min WICD 5196