Since 2016, the process of the re-calculation of the industrial fishing vessels is still lagging. This is despite the commitments made by the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy and the heavy financial, social and environmental consequences the tonnage fraud continues to have in Senegal.
“We ask the Government of Senegal to clarify the progress of this process and to publish the results of the internal investigation carried out on this subject, in accordance with the international and regional commitments made by the country. Under-reporting the gross tonnage of a vessel is a violation to Senegal’s law and international conventions,” said Ahmed Diamé, Greenpeace Africa Oceans Campaigner.
The submission of a new tonnage certificate was a condition for vessels to get fishing licences in 2017. In 2016, the authorities of ANAM and the Minister of Fisheries had promised all Senegalese that their services would solve the problem of tonnage fraud and that the deadline for publishing their findings will be late 2016.
“Two years later, nothing has been done about this commitment. In addition to financial losses for the Senegalese government, this fraud has a negative impact on coastal communities, ecosystems and marine resources,” Diame added.
The gravity of the massive fraud on the declaration of gross tonnage by some industrial fishing vessels was revealed by Greenpeace Africa in May 2015 in its report “Scam on the African Coast: The hidden face Chinese fisheries and mixed companies in Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry”. In this report, Greenpeace Africa revealed that fishing vessels operating in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs) of these three countries had under reported their gross tonnage.
Notes:
http://actunet.net/enquete-la-fraude-sur-le-tonnage-organisee-autour-de-la-peche/
Media contacts:
[email protected], Communication Officer, Greenpeace Africa, +221773336265
[email protected], Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa, +22133328993