This report documents the impacts of overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Senegal. It examines how the resulting declines in fish populations are driving increased forced migration to Europe across Earth's most deadly migration route, leading to over 3000 deaths in 2023 alone. [1]
Senegal’s fishing sector employs approximately 3% of the workforce and is a critical source of protein, contributing 7.9% of the population’s total intake. Artisanal fishers face mounting threats, particularly from destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling. The situation has been severely worsened by extensive overfishing and illegal fishing by European and Chinese industrial fleets. These fleets, often operating under opaque joint venture agreements, deplete fish populations and exacerbate food insecurity.
The fish caught by the industrial fleets is mostly exported to foreign markets, primarily the European Union and increasingly China. This has severely impacted the livelihoods of coastal communities and contributed to rising poverty, meaning migration has become a necessary coping strategy for many families.
In 2024, the number of migrants entering Spain irregularly reached 63,970, more than double the figure from 2022. A significant proportion reached the Canary Islands, with migrant numbers rising by 200% between 2022 and 2024.
