Every day, Gora Fall, a fisherman in Senegal's northern city of Saint-Louis, heads to sea with a mix of emotions: hope and frustration. He hopes he will get a better catch than the previous day, yet he is frustrated by the thought that whatever he finds might not meet his needs.
Before, we worked to live, but now we just work to survive, says the 25-year-old. Like him, many other small-scale, traditional fishermen in Saint-Louis - a major fishing hub - are facing hard times.
The BBC has spoken to several fishermen who all point to one cause - a liquefied natural gas platform operated by the British multinational oil and gas company BP, located off the coast of Saint-Louis.
The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, in partnership with local entities, is set to produce about 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year for over 20 years. However, locals claim this has disrupted their primary source of livelihood.
The authorities forbid us to fish in that area of the platform, under penalty of confiscation or even destruction of our fishing equipment if we access it, Mr. Fall says, referring to the exclusion zones around the facility. Fishermen argue that the project limits their access to a natural reef rich with fish—impacting their daily catches and earnings.
Processing of fish, traditionally done mostly by women in the community, is also being affected. With fewer fish brought to market, women like Diamol Sène are losing their jobs. She claims, Today, we earn just enough to cover expenses.
The fishermen's frustrations are compounded by increasing competition from larger trawlers and the lack of promised artificial reefs meant to offset diminished fishing opportunities. Some are now considering abandoning fishing altogether and pursuing alternative employment or even migrating to Europe in search of better prospects.
The government insists that the gas project's development will continue while also being committed to ensuring that fishing can coexist with energy extraction. However, many locals feel caught in a bleak situation with their claims that the promises made by BP have yet to materialize.
As the fishermen of Saint-Louis express their distress, Mr. Fall sums up their plight: We only have the sea to live on.\
Before, we worked to live, but now we just work to survive, says the 25-year-old. Like him, many other small-scale, traditional fishermen in Saint-Louis - a major fishing hub - are facing hard times.
The BBC has spoken to several fishermen who all point to one cause - a liquefied natural gas platform operated by the British multinational oil and gas company BP, located off the coast of Saint-Louis.
The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, in partnership with local entities, is set to produce about 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year for over 20 years. However, locals claim this has disrupted their primary source of livelihood.
The authorities forbid us to fish in that area of the platform, under penalty of confiscation or even destruction of our fishing equipment if we access it, Mr. Fall says, referring to the exclusion zones around the facility. Fishermen argue that the project limits their access to a natural reef rich with fish—impacting their daily catches and earnings.
Processing of fish, traditionally done mostly by women in the community, is also being affected. With fewer fish brought to market, women like Diamol Sène are losing their jobs. She claims, Today, we earn just enough to cover expenses.
The fishermen's frustrations are compounded by increasing competition from larger trawlers and the lack of promised artificial reefs meant to offset diminished fishing opportunities. Some are now considering abandoning fishing altogether and pursuing alternative employment or even migrating to Europe in search of better prospects.
The government insists that the gas project's development will continue while also being committed to ensuring that fishing can coexist with energy extraction. However, many locals feel caught in a bleak situation with their claims that the promises made by BP have yet to materialize.
As the fishermen of Saint-Louis express their distress, Mr. Fall sums up their plight: We only have the sea to live on.\
