Conipas Senegal: Urges Minister To Uphold Demersal Fishing License Freeze

• Conipas has urged Minister Amy Mara Dièye to maintain the freeze on demersal fishing licenses in Senegal.
• The organization believes unfreezing the 2006 decree would harm good governance of fishery resources.
• Scientific data indicates an "insignificant" exploitable potential of 2,921 tons, with risks of capturing overexploited species.
• Conipas recommends postponing the decision, prioritizing consultation, and implementing a full biological rest period.
• They also advocate for enhanced surveillance and combating illegal fishing practices to improve resource management.

Conipas stresses that the nation's fishery stocks are experiencing a continuous decline year after year, making responsible gestion ressources halieutiques Sénégal more crucial than ever.

The Conseil national interprofessionnel pêche artisanale Sénégal (Conipas), a prominent body representing artisanal fishing professionals, has issued a direct appeal to Amy Mara Dièye, the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy. Conipas is urging the Minister to uphold the current freeze on demersal fishing licenses, specifically referencing the Arrêté 2006 pêche démersale côtière Sénégal. In a public statement released this Wednesday, the organization articulated its firm belief that any decision to unfreeze the 2006 decree would be detrimental to the principles of sound governance concerning Senegal's vital fishery resources. This intervention highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the Conipas Senegal demersal fishing license freeze.

Conipas further underscored its position by recalling a significant gathering convened by the Prime Minister on June 9. During this high-level meeting, a clear majority of the stakeholders present reportedly expressed their support for maintaining the freeze, advocating for the cancellation of any proposed unfreezing of the decree. This collective sentiment from industry participants and other interested parties reinforces Conipas's demand for a cautious approach to managing access to these critical marine resources, emphasizing the need for stability in the regulatory environment.

The core of Conipas's argument against lifting the Conipas Senegal demersal fishing license freeze is rooted in scientific evidence and practical observations. The organization points to research conducted by the Centre de recherches océanographiques de Dakar-Thiaroye (CRODT), which indicates a limited exploitable potential of just 2,921 tons for demersal species. Conipas deems this volume "insignificant" when juxtaposed with the substantial and growing demands of the local market. This disparity raises serious questions about the economic viability and sustainability of increasing fishing pressure on such a constrained resource.

Moreover, the collective of artisanal fishing organizations has voiced a critical ecological warning: targeting these 2,921 tons would inevitably lead to the capture of other species, such as thiof and hake (merlu), which are already classified as fully exploited or overexploited. This bycatch risk poses a significant threat to the biodiversity and overall health of Senegal's marine ecosystems. Conipas stresses that the nation's fishery stocks are experiencing a continuous decline year after year, making responsible gestion ressources halieutiques Sénégal more crucial than ever. Unfreezing licenses, in their view, would only accelerate this depletion, jeopardizing the long-term future of the fishing industry and the communities dependent on it.

In response to these pressing ecological and economic challenges, Conipas has put forth a series of recommendations, urging Minister Amy Mara Dièye to postpone any decision regarding the unfreezing of licenses and to prioritize extensive consultation. The organization advocates for a multi-faceted approach to strengthen the droit de la pêche Sénégal and ensure sustainable practices. Key proposals include enhancing surveillance mechanisms, to be implemented in close collaboration with artisanal fishing professionals, and establishing a system for regular, comprehensive evaluations of marine resources.

Crucially, Conipas also calls for the implementation of a complete biological rest period, a measure designed to allow fish stocks to recover naturally. This proposed rest period would apply universally, encompassing both artisanal and industrial fishing operations. Beyond these specific actions, the organization emphasizes the necessity of combating detrimental fishing practices and actively fighting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Ultimately, Conipas seeks a broad and inclusive consultative process, bringing together government administration, industry professionals, and non-governmental organizations, to forge a unified strategy for improved gestion ressources halieutiques Sénégal and safeguard the nation's invaluable marine heritage.

Lawyers advising clients in Senegal's fishing industry should monitor the government's response to Conipas's demand, as the decision on maintaining or lifting the freeze on demersal fishing licenses will directly impact operational permits, resource access, and potential compliance obligations related to sustainable fishing practices.

Source: Reporting based on Senegalese media.