Senegal's Fishermen Face Tough Times Amid BP's Gas Project

Tue Nov 11 2025 05:27:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Traditional fishermen in Senegal's Saint-Louis are struggling to catch fish due to the exclusion zone established around a gas platform managed by BP, claiming that their livelihoods are jeopardized.

Fishermen from Saint-Louis, Senegal, express frustration over dwindling fish stocks attributed to the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas project by BP. The project's exclusion zone restricts fishing access, leaving local fishermen like Gora Fall struggling to survive in a sector crucial for their livelihoods. Despite the government's assurances of coexistence between gas extraction and fishing, locals report declining catches and economic uncertainty. The situation is compounded by competition from industrial trawlers and unfulfilled promises regarding artificial reefs.

Every day, Gora Fall, a fisherman in Senegal's northern city of Saint-Louis, heads to sea with a mix of emotions: hope and frustration. He hopes for a better catch than the previous day, yet he is frustrated by the thought that whatever he finds might not meet his needs.

Before, we worked to live, but now we just work to survive, says the 25-year-old.

Like him, many other small-scale, traditional fishermen in Saint-Louis - a major fishing hub - are facing hard times.

The BBC has spoken to several fishermen and those linked to the fishing trade who all point to one cause - a liquefied natural gas platform that sits on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania, off the coast of Saint-Louis.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project is operated by the British multinational oil and gas giant BP. Described as one of the deepest and most complex gas development schemes in Africa, the project is expected to produce roughly 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year.

However, residents of Saint-Louis say this also comes with restrictions on fishing which 90% of the city's population of over 250,000 rely on for a livelihood.

On a Tuesday morning, with weather conditions declared favorable, Mr. Fall readies his wooden canoe painted with bright colors. After motoring 10km offshore, he approaches the giant gas facility but cannot get any closer due to a 500m exclusion zone which restricts fishing.

Fishermen lament that the platform is built around a natural reef rich with fish, and the restrictions mean their catches are smaller and barely sustainable. BP argues that safety zones around infrastructure are standard practice.

With profits dwindling, many fishermen, including Mr. Fall, are considering abandoning their traditional practice. The economic pressure has led some to look for work elsewhere, including migrating to Europe.

If a job opportunity arises, we will seize it without hesitation, says Mr. Fall, highlighting the desperate situation they face in this community that relies on the sea for survival.