Foreign trawlers deplete Gambia fish stocks, fueling a coastal community crisis

Gambian fishermen face severe hardships as their traditional catches disappear from local waters. Foreign fishing boats remove large amounts of fish that once fed families across West Africa. These industrial vessels send their catch to Europe where the fish becomes feed for farm-raised salmon and other species. Local fishing communities struggle to survive without their main source of food and income. The crisis affects entire coastal regions where fishing has supported people for many generations.

Three large factories operate along Gambia's coast processing fresh fish into powder and oil. Workers grind edible fish that could feed local families into meal for European fish farms. The factories release waste directly into ocean waters without treatment. Coastal areas suffer from pollution that makes swimming dangerous and damages marine life. Fishermen must travel farther from shore and use more fuel to find fewer fish.

Many fishing families cannot afford to replace damaged nets and boats after encounters with large trawlers. Some fishermen abandon their traditional work and turn to human smuggling across the Atlantic Ocean. A single smuggling trip can earn more money than years of fishing. Women who smoke and sell fish at local markets lose their jobs as factories take their supply. Coastal communities organize protests and demand changes to fishing agreements with European countries.