On Thursday 24 April, the environmental NGOs ClientEarth and Oceana announced that they were taking legal action against the Spanish government for failing to take action against illegal fishing practices in West Africa (Senegal and Guinea Bissau).
The NGOs criticise the Spanish government for failing to investigate and, where necessary, punish Spanish vessels that have switched off their automatic identification systems (AIS) for long periods, and for failing to effectively monitor the fishing operations of the Spanish fleet in West Africa.
“With local fish stocks dwindling, local communities in the region are facing disastrous consequences, including risks to food security, job loss and forced migration”, the NGOs point out.
Foreign vessels, including Spanish ones, account for 73% of the industrial fleet in West Africa. However, according to the organisations, the lack of controls at sea and in port risks “enabling illegal fishing”.
An analysis by Global Fishing Watch shows that Spanish-flagged vessels operating in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau switch off their AIS for long periods.
Further details: https://aeur.eu/f/gi8 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)