Senegal's CAOPA: Subsidy Reform Must Protect Artisanal Fishing

• The livelihoods of millions of families in Senegal depend on artisanal fishing.
• The WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies falls short of addressing the realities faced by artisanal fishermen.
• CAOPA proposes redirecting public subsidies towards collective goods and services to strengthen fishing communities.
• Targeted measures are needed to address subsidies favoring industrial overcapacity.

La réforme des subventions ne doit pas créer une double injustice, à la fois écologique et sociale.

The livelihoods of millions of families in Senegal depend on artisanal fishing, which is facing a double threat: overfishing and unfair subsidies that benefit industrial fleets. Gaoussou Gueye, representative of the Confédération Africaine des Organisations de la Pêche Artisanale (CAOPA), emphasized that subsidy reform must protect these communities while addressing the mechanisms driving overcapacity in industrial fishing. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted in 2022 and which entered into force on September 15, 2025, is a significant step forward but falls short of addressing the realities faced by artisanal fishermen, particularly in developing countries.

The WTO agreement prohibits certain public aids related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as subsidies for overfished stocks. However, according to Gueye, these measures do not go far enough. They fail to distinguish between artisanal and industrial fishing and do not adequately address the issue of significant subsidies contributing to overcapacity in industrial fleets.

This situation raises concerns that measures intended to protect marine resources may ultimately harm the most vulnerable communities.

CAOPA argues that applying the same restrictions to all fishing actors could weaken small-scale fishermen without addressing the root causes of overcapacity. The organization emphasizes that artisanal fishing is not the primary source of global overfishing, but rather needs public support to improve safety at sea, conserve resources, and facilitate market access. In contrast, industrial fleets receive significant financial aid, allowing them to fish further and longer, putting pressure on marine resources.

According to Gueye, 'the reform of subsidies must not create a double injustice, both ecological and social.' CAOPA proposes an approach focused on redirecting public subsidies towards collective goods and services. This includes prioritizing safety at sea, local infrastructure, and cold chain development to strengthen fishing communities rather than weakening them.

In the context of ongoing international negotiations, CAOPA advocates for targeted measures to address subsidies favoring industrial overcapacity. The organization also seeks special treatment and differentiation in favor of artisanal fishing in developing countries, as well as adapted disciplines reflecting the realities of different types of fishing.

CAOPA's Fish One initiative focuses on implementing reforms by redirecting public subsidies towards collective goods and services. This includes prioritizing safety at sea, local infrastructure, and cold chain development to strengthen fishing communities rather than weakening them. The goal is for policies to reinforce fishing communities instead of fragmenting them.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential changes to fishing subsidies in Senegal, which may impact the livelihoods of millions of families relying on artisanal fishing.

Source: Original reporting via a Senegalese news outlet