Fisheries and the Environment. Policy Implementation and Fisheries Resource Management: Lessons from Senegal

Abstract

Fishing plays an important role in the Senegalese economy and society. Indeed, it is a multipurpose activity that contributes towards reducing the balance of payments deficit, reducing unemployment and satisfying the protein needs of the population. Despite its importance, the fishing sector is facing serious socioeconomic disequilibria, which has lead to overfishing and the use of harmful methods of production. This, in turn, has resulted in the shortage of supplies to local markets and a reduction in protein intake for populations dependent on fishing. Furthermore, the strong tendency to export Senegalese piscatorial products has led to a shift in focus of the fishing effort from locally consumed species (pelagic) to export oriented ones (demersal), since the latter have a higher added value.