Djifère: Sangomar Pétrole Pêche Impact Threatens Fishing Communities

• Fishing communities in Djifère, Senegal, along with Greenpeace Afrique, have raised alarms over the severe impacts of offshore oil exploitation at Sangomar.
• Local leaders report that a 500-meter security perimeter around the oil platform has blocked access to traditional fishing grounds, leading to a scarcity of fish.
• Offshore oil operations are accelerating coastal erosion in Djifère and negatively affecting fishing and seafood processing activities, particularly those undertaken by women.
• Community representatives claim that numerous meetings with oil operators have yielded only unfulfilled promises, with no concrete solutions implemented.
• The village chief of Djifère has called for a protective dike to combat erosion, warning that the loss of Djifère would threaten other nearby localities.

The establishment of a 500-meter security perimeter around the exploitation platform, which prohibits any approach, has rendered these vital fishing grounds completely inaccessible for local pirogues.

Local fishing communities in Djifère, situated within the commune of Palmarin in Senegal's central-western Fatick region, convened recently with Greenpeace Afrique to voice urgent concerns regarding the environmental and economic repercussions of offshore oil exploitation. The gathering, a community advocacy initiative, focused specifically on the detrimental effects these activities are having on coastal populations.

Amadou Oumar Touré, who manages Greenpeace Afrique's 'Oceans' campaign, clarified that this event forms part of a broader action plan for their campaign. He explained that Greenpeace has been conducting site visits along the Senegalese coastline, including locations such as Saint-Louis, Lompoul, and Kayar, before arriving in Djifère, to directly observe the impacts stemming from both oil and gas extraction and coastal erosion. The organization aims to compile information from these various meetings with fishing stakeholders to develop a comprehensive action plan, integrating proposed solutions and collaborating with communities to implement identified activities in affected areas.

The vulnerability of Djifère's coastline, a region that has experienced coastal erosion for many years, has been significantly exacerbated by the commencement of offshore oil exploitation at Sangomar. This development is not only intensifying the erosion but also severely affecting traditional fishing activities and the seafood processing work predominantly carried out by women in the area.

Souleymane Thiaw, coordinator for the Djifère Local Council of Artisanal Fishing (CLPA) and also the Fatick departmental coordinator, highlighted that Djifère, historically recognized as the "economic lung" of the Fatick region, is now confronting substantial challenges due to the Sangomar oil operations. He pointed out that oil extraction is occurring in areas traditionally used by fishermen. A 500-meter security perimeter established around the exploitation platform, which prohibits any approach, has rendered these vital fishing grounds completely inaccessible for local pirogues. Furthermore, since the installation of these offshore platforms, certain fish species that previously reproduced near the coast are no longer found, leading to a critical scarcity of marine resources for local fishermen.

Local stakeholders, including fishermen, fishmongers, and women processors, collectively attest to the profound impact of oil exploitation on their ability to find fish. They report having held numerous discussions with oil operators, yet these interactions have consistently resulted in unfulfilled promises and a lack of follow-up action, leaving the community feeling unheard and unsupported.

Cheikh Sadibou Diamé, the village chief of Djifère, underscored how the Sangomar oil exploitation has compounded the difficulties his community faces from ongoing sea encroachment. He issued a plea for the construction of a protective dike to mitigate coastal erosion, warning that the disappearance of Djifère would inevitably lead to the loss of several other nearby localities, including Palmarin, Dionewar, and Niodior. This urgent call reflects the community's desperation for concrete measures to safeguard their homes and livelihoods against the dual threats of environmental degradation and industrial activity.

Source: Reporting based on APS coverage