Over fishing by foreign vessels off Senegal decimated fish stock and forced many fishermen to try an illegal sea crossing to the Canary Islands, The Environmental Justice Foundation, a London-based group specializing in environmental and human rights issues, said.
Illegal crossings to the Spanish archipelago increased following the surge in overfishing by foreign vessels, the NGO said in a report featuring interviews with migrants and fishermen.
At least 3000 Senegalese would-be migrants died while attempting to cross to the Spanish islands, a direct consequence of declining fish populations which left many fishermen jobless, it said.
The NGO found that 57% of fish stocks in Senegal are in a “state of collapse,” with foreign vessels playing a significant role in declining numbers.
Its analysis showed 43.7% of licensed vessels in Senegal are foreign-controlled, predominantly of Spanish and Chinese origin.
Overfishing has affected the livelihood of traditional fishermen, who represent about 3% of Senegal’s active workforce, it said.
Last year, the number of migrants entering Spain irregularly reached 63,970 – more than double the figure from 2022. A significant proportion reached the Canary Islands, with migrant numbers rising 200% between 2022 and 2024.
