Oil exploitation in Sangomar: The heartfelt plea of Djiffer's fishermen

Since oil production began at the Sangomar field, the residents of Djiffer, in the commune of Palmarin (Fatick department), say they have faced numerous difficulties. Between dwindling fish stocks, lack of funding, and coastal erosion, the communities describe an increasingly challenging daily life.

Fishing bans and dwindling resources

The coordinator of the Local Council for Artisanal Fishing (CLPA), Souleymane Thiaw, addressed the impacts of this exploitation on maritime activities. "Fish stocks are being depleted. Moreover, access to our historical fishing grounds is now formally prohibited due to the security perimeter imposed by the oil platform," he lamented during a meeting with fishing stakeholders this Tuesday.

He then emphasized that Woodside had not kept its promises: "We met with Woodside officials several times, but to no avail. The company never took our concerns into account."

In response to this situation, Souleymane Thiaw made an urgent appeal to the Senegalese government for financial support for those working in the fishing industry. Women involved in fish processing are also severely impacted by restrictions related to oil activities.

Coastal erosion: an existential threat to the region

For his part, the village chief, Cheikh Sadibou Diamé, pleaded for emergency infrastructure to combat the advancing sea. "We are requesting the construction of a protective dike to curb coastal erosion, because if Djiffer disappears, many other localities in the area, including Dionewar, Niodior and Falia, will also disappear," he warned.

Greenpeace Africa stands alongside local communities

This meeting is part of Greenpeace Africa's "Oceans" action plan, which brought together local fishing stakeholders. "We wanted to visit sites along the Senegalese coast to see firsthand the impacts of oil and gas exploitation and coastal erosion. To that end, we visited Saint-Louis, Lompoul, and Kayar, and today we are in Djiffer," explained Greenpeace campaign manager Amadou Oumar Touré.

According to him, Djiffer is a particularly vulnerable area where coastal erosion has been observed for several years. "Today, with oil exploitation off the coast of Sangomar, we have noted an increase in erosion, but also impacts on fishing and seafood processing activities," he lamented. "That is why we came to Djiffer to talk with the local population in order to find solutions," he added.

Towards a joint action plan

Thus, following this activity, an action plan will be developed and the solutions proposed by the communities will be taken into account. "We will return to work with the communities to implement the activities that have been jointly identified with these populations," he reassured.