Policy Incoherence: EU Fisheries Policy in Senegal (UNDP, 2005)

This paper explores the complex interplay between European Union fisheries policies and their impact on Senegal’s fishing sector. As one of Senegal’s key economic pillars, the fisheries industry provides substantial employment and meets 75% of the nation’s protein needs. However, EU access agreements, established after the United Nations Law of the Sea granted Senegal control over its Exclusive Economic Zone, have led to overfishing by industrial fleets. These agreements undermine local, small-scale fishing communities and challenge Senegal’s efforts to manage its marine resources sustainably. Through a critical lens, the paper analyzes how EU policies, economic dependencies, and structural adjustment programs disrupt Senegal’s fish stocks and economic stability, highlighting the urgent need for policy coherence to preserve Senegal’s “blue gold” for future generations.