Dakar, Senegal, 1 June, 2021 – Major European companies have been linked to the devastating consequences of the fishmeal and fish oil trade in West Africa according to a new report by Greenpeace and Changing markets. The report Feeding a Monster: How European aquaculture and animal feed industries are stealing food from West African communities reveals how more than half a million tonnes of small pelagic fish are extracted every year along the coast of West Africa and converted into feed for aqua- and agriculture farming, dietary supplements, cosmetics and pet food products outside the African continent.[1]
“Depriving millions of West African people of the most basic source of protein to feed animals or produce dietary supplements, cosmetics and pet food products is shameful and a blatant disregard of local and international laws. Fish fit for human consumption should not and must never again be stolen from communities in West Africa to service the needs of other countries. Our governments must act fast to put an end to this,” said Dr Ibrahimé Cissé, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.
The report is based on research of the fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) trade and supply chain links between the fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) industry in West Africa and the European market. It includes traders, aqua- and agrofeed companies in France (Olvea), Norway (GC Rieber, EWOS/Cargill, Skretting, Mowi), Denmark (ED&F Man Terminals, TripleNine, FF Skagen, Pelagia and BioMar), Germany (Köster Marine Proteins), Spain (Inproquisa, Industrias Arpo, Skretting Espana), and Greece (Norsildmel Innovation AS). Also, it includes supply chain relationships between seafood processors/distributors and farmed fish producers that have been sourcing aquafeed from companies involved in West African FMFO trade in recent years, and well-known retailers from France (Carrefour, Auchan, E.Leclerc, Système U, Monoprix, Groupe Casino), Germany (Aldi Süd, Lidl, Kaufland, Rewe, Metro AG, Edeka.), Spain (Lidl Espana), and the UK (Tesco, Lidl, Aldi). [2]
“Exports of fishmeal and fish oil to Europe are stealing the livelihoods of coastal communities, by depriving populations of an important food source and means of income. European aquafeed companies and retailers can no longer ignore this major human rights and environmental issue. Now is the time to rethink supply chains and rapidly phase out the use of wild-caught fish in farmed fish and other animals, to preserve these fish populations for future generations,” said Alice Delemare Tangpuori, Campaigns Manager, Changing Markets.
Greenpeace and Changing Markets’ research confirms a rapid expansion of FMFO in the past few years, particularly in Mauritania, where 70% of the fish oil exports went to the EU in 2019. The governments of Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia have so far failed to properly manage their common small pelagic fish resource, as well as to take the appropriate measures to ensure the right to food and livelihood for their impacted communities, including the artisanal fishing sector, who continue to protest against the FMFO factories.
“In the cold season currently in Senegal, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find sardinella at the usual landing points. The consequences on the food and nutritional security of local people are catastrophic as well as on the balance of the food chain at sea,” said Dr. Alassane Samba, Former Director of Research and Director of the Dakar-Thiaroye Oceanographic Research Center in Senegal. [3]
Harouna Ismail Lebaye, President of FLPA (Artisanal Fishing Free Federation), Nouadhibou section, in Mauritania, has a strong message for companies and governments involved in FMFO sourcing: “Your investments rob us of our fisheries resources, your investments starve us, your investments threaten our stability, your factories make us sick (…). It’s time to stop now.”
Greenpeace Africa and Changing Markets are calling on companies, policy makers and governments to stop taking fish fit for human consumption from West Africa to feed fishmeal and fish oil demand in the European Union and Norway.
Photo and video available:
https://media.greenpeace.org/Share/1wns56x0dcto237omqm5545fuonrvp3l https://media.greenpeace.org/Share/74v2osj4fwon236v732te462776h71bv
Contacts:
Greenpeace Africa press desk: [email protected]
Mikaïla Issa, Consultant Communications and Media for Greenpeace Africa: +221782199410, [email protected]
Christina Koll, Senior Communications Coordinator, Greenpeace Africa (for international media requests): +4528109021, [email protected]
For Changing Markets requests: Charlie Dakin, Greenhouse PR. Tel: +447861 530357, e-mail: [email protected]
Notes:
[1] Feeding a Monster: How European aquaculture and animal feed industries are stealing food from West African communities, Report from Greenpeace Africa and Changing Markets, June 2021,https://www.greenpeace.org/static/planet4-africa-stateless/2021/05/47227297-feeding-a-monster-en-final-small.pdf
[2] Although we cannot establish a direct chain of custody between the retailers and West African FMFO, Changing Markets has reported – through publicly accessible sources, in-store visits, interviews and investigations – supply chain relationships between the retailers mentioned in the report Feeding a Monster: How European aquaculture and animal feed industries are stealing food from West African communities, seafood processors/distributors, and farmed fish producers that have been sourcing aquafeed from companies involved in the trade of West African FMFO in recent years. The maintenance of these relationships is problematic, and irrespective of whether there is a direct chain of custody, they should not source from those who source from West Africa.
[3] The main species at stake in the FMFO production, flat and round sardinella and bonga, are essential to the food security of millions of people in the region. According to the The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) these fish resources are overexploited and a 50% reduction in fishing effort is required – FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa 2019. Summary report available at: http://www.fao.org/3/cb0490en/CB0490EN.pdf
Get Involved
Discussion
Greenpeace membre que je suis je dis non a ces entreprises qii ne respectent nos océans africains que les impacts concernent tous le monde entier pas seulement l Afrique en détruisant nos mers vous détruisez le monde. Arrêté ça!
Merci pour votre soutien.
Greenpeace i really dont know where our planet would be without your efforts and tinely interventions. Thank you.Thank you. SORP GlobL Group salutes you!!
Thank you for your support 💚; this is a collective effort from all of us.