The conflict dates back to 2020, when Senegal began restricting access to Hann Bay, essential for pole

Basque Tuna Fleet Crisis in Senegal: An Urgent Plea to Spanish and European Authorities

SPAIN
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

• Basque tuna fleet denounces abandonment after six months stranded in Dakar due to end of EU-Senegal agreement.
• Basque tuna vessel owners demand urgent solutions to the "unsustainable" situation due to the blockade in Senegal.
• Unable to fish or relocate: Basque tuna fleet at its limit after expiration of Senegal agreement.
• Dakartuna cries out for help from Spain and the EU to save its artisanal tuna fleet stranded in Dakar.

Dakar, Senegal – The Basque pole-and-line tuna fleet, comprising four vessels and grouped under the association Dakartuna (part of Cepesca), has been moored in the port of Dakar for six months following the expiration of the EU-Senegal Fisheries Agreement in November 2024. Faced with a lack of solutions from the Spanish and European administrations, the vessel owners have escalated their protest to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the European Commission, denouncing a situation they describe as "unsustainable."

A Legal Limbo with Severe Socio-Economic Consequences

The non-renewal of the agreement has left these vessels with no options to fish or relocate to other fishing grounds, directly affecting more than 200 families, including crew members (an average of 17 per vessel) and indirect workers.

Miguel Ángel Solana, president of Dakartuna, states:

"Despite meetings with the General Secretariat for Fisheries and the aid received in 2023 to compensate for accumulated losses since 2020 — which we appreciate — today we find ourselves in a dead end. There is no support to reactivate our activity or for a dignified exit."

A Crisis with Deep Roots

The conflict dates back to 2020, when Senegal began restricting access to Hann Bay, a critical area for the supply of live anchovy, essential for pole-and-line fishing with live bait — a highly selective and sustainable method. This was compounded in 2022 by Senegal's unilateral decision to suspend new licenses, culminating in the non-renewal of the fisheries agreement.

Concrete Requests in the Face of the Emergency

Faced with the paralysis, Dakartuna proposes two urgent avenues:

• Aid for relocation to alternative fishing grounds (Costa Rica, Panama), where they could access live bait and resume their activity.
• Access to the scrapping aid from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), given that the vessels meet the legal requirements.

At Risk: A Unique Fishing Model

This fleet not only represents a historical tradition but also an artisanal fishing model recognized for its low environmental impact. Its disappearance would be a loss for the sector and for the sustainability standards that the EU promotes.

Final Call to the Authorities:

"We need an immediate response. Either they help us continue, or they allow us to close with dignity," concludes Solana.

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