The number of immigrant arrivals to Spain hit a record 63,970 in 2024, according to the country’s Interior Ministry, an increase a report from the NGO Environmental Justice Foundation (EFJ) says can be tied to the fishing crisis in Senegal.
“If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe,” said a Senegalese immigrant and former fisherman.
Senegal ranked among the top three nationalities of arrivals to the Canary Islands in 2024, with total arrivals to the islands rising by 200% compared to 2022. The human toll is staggering: 3,176 migrants are estimated to have died on the crossing in 2023 alone, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras.
Fishing is a cornerstone of Senegal’s economy, employing around 3% of the workforce and underpinning national food security. But the sector is under severe threat. According to the report, the stocks of 57% of fish species in Senegal are collapsing after decades of overfishing, much of it by foreign-flagged bottom trawlers. These vessels export the bulk of their catch to the EU and China, leaving little for local communities.
The EFJ report calls on the Senegalese government, the EU, and industrial fishing entities to strengthen transparency, improve governance, and return control of fisheries to local communities.
