Mapping competition between domestic and distant water fishing fleets in West Africa

Abstract

Abstract The marine waters of West Africa are one of the most productive in the world with diverse marine fish species that support livelihoods and food security for about 6.7 million people across the region. Small-scale fisheries accounts for approximately 44% of total landed catches and 48% of the total landed value, with regional catches exceeding 1.8 million tonnes and generating over 2 billion USD per year. The domestic fishing fleet consists of about 54,000 small–scale canoes, and over 3,300 industrial vessels (~ 20% are foreign owned). This study examined the interaction between domestic and Distant Water Fishing fleets (DWF) that are predominantly from Asia and the European Union. Our results indicate that domestic and DWFs target key species in the region such as marine horse mackerels (Trachurus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus Albacares), and Senegalese hake (Merluccius senegalensis). We found that DWFs substantially overlap with domestic fleets in local fishing grounds, which has caused vessel conflicts and may be contributing to the overexploitation of fisheries resources. For instance, our analysis suggests that DWFs operate within 90% of the surface area of the Senegalese EEZ suggesting a high level of competition with the Senegalese domestic fleet for space and resources. To mitigate the overexploitation of fish stocks in West Africa by DWF, we recommend that the region should create a regional management body using the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency as a model.