The Group of Shipowners and Fishing Industries in Senegal (GAIPES) is protesting against the decree partially unfreezing coastal demersal fishing licenses signed by the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy.

In a statement, the organization calls for the "outright withdrawal" of this decision, which it considers detrimental to a fishery already under pressure.

According to GAIPES, the decree ends a twenty-year moratorium on "a fishery that is generally overexploited." The group also disputes the reason given by the authorities, namely the supply of seafood products to the national market.

To support its position, the organization relies on the report from the Dakar-Thiaroye Oceanographic Research Centre (CRODT). Citing the document, it recalls that "for overexploited demersal stocks, management measures must be taken (...) to recover the deficit (...) and bring catches back to a sustainable level."

GAIPES believes that the fisheries administration engaged in a "selective and biased interpretation" of the scientific findings. It also considers that the decision suffers from "shortcomings in the analysis of the results," particularly due to the failure to consider scientific uncertainties, the ecosystem dimension, the precautionary principle, and socioeconomic implications.

The group also challenges the argument of national supply. According to them, the potentially exploitable tonnage, estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 tons, would not be sufficient to meet the needs of the local market, estimated at around 220,000 tons.

"The argument of national supply is therefore not only unfounded, but also being exploited," the statement argues.

Faced with this situation, GAIPES is launching "a solemn appeal" to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the National Assembly to obtain the withdrawal of the contested decree.