While the pandemic of COVID 19 is raging in all the regions of Senegal and affects the activities of many fishermen, the Senegalese authorities through its Ministry of Fisheries, wanted by masked maneuvers, granted 52 fishing licenses to foreign boats. This was without counting on the vigilance of the valiant defenders of the sea, in particular, industrialists, artisanal fishermen and women processors, who spared no effort to defend their livelihood and food security.
As one man, they stood up to say NO to these new invaders who would inevitably make their situation even more precarious. Meetings, press conferences, phone calls, press releases, … all strategies were put in place to ask for justice from the authorities, but especially to push these license applicants away.
One of the great ideas was to celebrate World Ocean Day by taking inspiration from the actuality of the moment: the wearing of masks…red masks moreover! For the occasion, 10,000 masks were made with a clear message: “No to illegal fishing licenses”.
All in unison and in uniform, the young and not so young people made their voices heard from the north to the south all over the Senegalese territory, in the houses and even beyond the borders. This unique and peaceful activity was the engine of a great mobilization from Dakar to Kafountine, passing by Saint Louis, Mbour, Joal, Yarakh, Yenn, Rufisque and Cayar where all had a single slogan “No to illegal fishing licenses”.
This refrain in red, the color of the sacrifice of fishermen and women processors who struggle to make a living from their trade because of the scarcity of resources was chanted, quoted, sung, danced, written so that no one ignores that Senegalese fish must first feed the Senegalese before being exploited and exported to fatten fish, cats, chickens, dogs and pigs of other nations.
On June 8 – 2020, while all the fishing communities, women processors, retired fishermen, active fishermen and trades evolving around fishing joined the national movement to say No and No to the 52 fishing licenses requested by the Chinese and Turkish fleet. The next day, in the media, we received news from the Senegalese authorities: “The State is closing its waters to foreign boats”.
This news is timely and gives all the actors already active in the field one more reason to transform their cry of distress into a cry of joy in the immediate future and with a remarkable identity. “Victory, victory” could be heard here and there in the fishing docks… A reason to dance and to greet the decision of the authorities who listened to the call of 10.000 red masks.
Of course, now with the pressure of the 10,000 red masks, the oceans of Senegal can breathe, but it is absolutely necessary to improve the management of resources so that they breathe FINALLY!!!!
Philippe Ahodekon, in charge of Mobilization, Greenpeace Africa