I exist.
I am a woman fish processor.
I work every day.
I process, preserve, and sell fish.
I feed my family.
I feed my community.
I feed Senegal.
My work is essential.
There is no doubt that I exist.
And yet, in the eyes of the law, I do not exist.
Over the years, our reality has changed. Fish is becoming scarce. Markets are emptier. Our incomes are shrinking. But this is not inevitable.
The overexploitation of fishery resources—particularly by industrial fleets, whose catches are largely exported to foreign markets—has reduced our access to fish. Fishmeal and fish oil factories are diverting resources that should feed local populations. And now, oil and gas developments are placing additional pressure on already fragile coastal ecosystems.
We see these changes. We live with their consequences. And still, we are not recognized.
Without legal status, we have no protection. Without recognition, we have no place in decision-making. Without a voice, decisions are made about us, without us.
I exist.
But I want to exist fully.
To exist in the law.
To exist in the decisions that shape our future.
To exist in the policies that affect our lives.
What we are asking for is simple:
- Official recognition of our profession
- Inclusion in decision-making bodies within the fisheries sector
- Transparent and equitable management of fishery resources
Today, I speak on behalf of thousands of women who work in the shadows.
We exist.
We have always existed.
It is time for the law to recognize us.
