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Thiès, Senegal - The grassroots movement against industrial fishmeal and fish oil in West Africa reached a new battleground today when a group of women fish processors, artisanal fishermen and other residents of the city of Cayar launched a court case against the fishmeal factory they claim has their right to a healthy one Injured the environment by polluting the city's air and drinking water source.
The Taxawu Cayar Collective, which is leading the litigation, also announced that Spanish company Barna has sold its ownership of the Cayar factory to the local management team after a sustained grassroots campaign.[1]
The news comes as Greenpeace Africa also unveiled a previously unreported report from the United Nations FAO working group, which warns that key fish species targeted by the fishmeal industry are being "overexploited" and that "depletion of small coastal pelagic fish stocks is a serious threat to food security” in West Africa.[2] Coastal community representatives and Greenpeace Africa have warned beforehand the disastrous impact of declining fish stocks on the livelihoods of the 825.000 people in Senegal who make a living from fishing.[2]
Dozens of Cayar residents gathered Thursday morning outside the Thiès High Court to show their support for plaintiffs as they confront their new owner, Touba Protéine Marine, formerly Barna Senegal. But inside, defense counsel asked the judge to adjourn the trial until October 6, and the request was immediately granted.
Maty Ndao, a Cayar fish processor and member of the Taxawu Cayar Collective, said:
“It seems that the factory owners need time to find their excuses. But we are ready, and the photos and scientific evidence we have will uncover their breaking of the law. The fact that the old owners ran away after we protested made us even more confident in our fight. They pollute the land and drinking water and destroy the sea. Our city is filled with the horrible, foul stench of rotten fish. The health of our children and our ability to earn a living are at stake. That's why we will never give up.”
Maitre Bathily, the collective's lawyer, said:
“Environmental lawsuits like this are rare in Senegal or most of Africa. So this will be a historic test of our institutions and of our citizens' freedom to exercise their rights. But we believe they will prove strong. The factory has repeatedly violated environmental regulations, and the environmental impact assessment carried out prior to its opening clearly revealed huge shortcomings. It should be an open and closed case.”
dr Aliou Ba, Greenpeace Africa Senior Oceans Campaigner said:
“Factories like Cayar's can afford to take our fish and sell it as animal feed in other countries. So they drive up prices, force workers out of business in Senegal, and deprive families here of healthy, affordable, and traditional food. It's a system directed against ordinary people in Africa, in favor of big business - and the fishmeal factory is collaborating with it. But the church here will shut them down.”
Greenpeace Africa demands:
- West African governments are phasing out the production of fishmeal and fish oil with fish fit for human consumption due to the negative environmental, social and economic impacts.
- West African governments grant legal and formal status to women processors and artisanal fishers, and open access to labor rights and benefits such as B. social security and consultation rights in local fisheries management.
- Companies and end markets will stop trading fishmeal and fish oil made from edible fish from the West African region,
- All States involved in fisheries in the region shall establish an effective regional management system - particularly for the exploitation of common stocks such as small pelagic fish - as required by international law, relevant national laws, fisheries policies and other instruments.
Notes
[1] https://www.fao.org/3/cb9193en/cb9193en.pdf
[2] https://pubs.iied.org/16655iied
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Photos: Greenpeace
