Fishing in Senegal: The Assembly approves an investigation into licenses granted to industrial fishermen

The National Assembly wants to shed light on the allocation of industrial fishing licenses in Senegal. A proposed resolution to create a parliamentary commission of inquiry was adopted this Thursday in plenary session by 129 votes out of 129 present . Sponsored by the PASTEF Les Patriotes parliamentary group, and signed by its president Mohamed Ayib Salim Daffé, the resolution aims to examine the conditions for granting and renewing industrial fishing licenses since the entry into force of the 2015 Maritime Fisheries Code . This inquiry comes amidst intense pressure on fish stocks, marked by the depletion of certain species and recurring tensions between artisanal fishers and industrial operators.

Licenses at the heart of the questions

In its explanatory memorandum, the proposed resolution outlines several alleged irregularities in the management of fishing permits. Members of Parliament question, in particular, the underreporting of the gross tonnage of certain vessels , given that this figure serves as a basis for determining the fees owed to the State. Another issue raised concerns the granting of licenses to vessels whose seaworthiness or insurance certificates had expired at the time of authorization. The text also mentions outstanding fines , which could represent a loss of revenue for public finances.

Are scientific opinions sometimes dismissed?

The committee will also have to examine how the licensing decisions were made. Members of Parliament are particularly critical of the lack, in some cases, of prior scientific advice to assess the impact of the authorizations on the state of fish stocks.

The functioning of the Advisory Commission for the Allocation of Fishing Licenses (CCALP) will also be scrutinized. Parliamentarians want to determine whether this body was systematically consulted and whether its recommendations were taken into account in the final decisions.

Who actually controls the beneficiaries?

Beyond the licenses themselves, the resolution raises the issue of oversight of companies authorized to exploit Senegalese fisheries resources. Members of Parliament specifically want to verify that the beneficiary companies are complying with their tax obligations and the conditions under which administrative audits were conducted. Transparency regarding the list of vessels authorized to fish in Senegalese waters is another key point of the inquiry. For the authors of the resolution, access to this information is essential for effective oversight of fishing activity and to ensure better traceability of exploited resources.

A question of food sovereignty

Behind the licensing issue lies the entire question of fisheries resource management. For members of parliament, fishing permits cannot be considered mere administrative or economic acts. They directly impact Senegal's sovereignty, the preservation of natural resources, and food security . In a country where fish plays a vital role in the diet and is an essential source of income for thousands of families, the pressure exerted on resources has become a major concern. The parliamentary inquiry must therefore determine whether licensing policies have adequately considered the actual state of fish stocks and the interests of fishing communities.

Eleven MPs to investigate

The commission of inquiry will be composed of eleven members of parliament , representing the various political forces present in the National Assembly. It will notably hear from officials of the relevant ministries as well as the main technical departments involved in fisheries management and control. These include: the Directorate of Maritime Fisheries (DPM) , the Directorate of Fisheries Protection and Surveillance (DPSP) , the Directorate of Fisheries Processing Industries (DITP) , and the National Maritime Affairs Agency (ANAM) . Researchers from the Dakar-Thiaroye Oceanographic Research Center (CRODT) may also be heard, as may private operators and cooperatives involved in the industrial fishing sector.

Fishing licenses under parliamentary scrutiny

With the adoption of the resolution by 129 votes out of 129 cast this Thursday in plenary session , the National Assembly has launched a new inquiry into the management of a strategic resource for Senegal. Members of Parliament will now have to reconstruct the conditions under which licenses were issued or renewed, verify the compliance of procedures, and identify any potential shortcomings. Beyond administrative and financial responsibilities, the issue also aims to determine whether the management of licenses contributed to the pressure exerted on fish stocks. Who obtained the licenses, on what basis, with what controls, and in return? The commission of inquiry will have to provide answers to these questions in a sector where each authorization can have direct consequences on the resources available for future generations and on the survival of artisanal fishing.