Senegal Discusses Maritime Fishing Code Reform, Data Access

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) recently organized a workshop in Senegal to address transparency and access to information in the country's vital fishing sector, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss reforms to the Maritime Fisheries Code. This event, part of the project "Promotion of transparency principles and strengthening participatory monitoring in Senegal" and funded by Oceans 5 and Bloomberg, convened media professionals, institutional actors, and civil society representatives. Discussions centered on enhancing access to information, the ongoing reform of the Maritime Fisheries Code, and the effective monitoring of public policies within the sector. Cheikh Fall, the Director of Marine Fisheries, underscored the critical role of fishing in food security, employment, and livelihoods for coastal communities, advocating for clear regulations, reliable data, and robust surveillance mechanisms to manage resource pressure. He emphasized that transparency should empower citizens and professionals to understand access conditions, administrative decisions, and their outcomes, specifically mentioning access to licensing information, improved data collection, and publication of control and surveillance operations. Fall also highlighted the importance of involving fishers, researchers, and civil society in resource management decisions, viewing the Code's revision as a prime opportunity to embed these principles legally and administratively. Moussa Mbengue, Executive Secretary of Adepa, further contributed to the discussion on transparency.