Senegal's fishing license system has been marred by irregularities, according to Fatou Diouf, the country's former minister. During a parliamentary inquiry, Diouf revealed that several administrative anomalies were found in the dossiers of various vessels. These irregularities include undervalued vessel capacities, expired insurance policies, and invalid navigation permits. The discrepancies were discovered through joint checks conducted with the National Maritime Affairs Agency.
The undervaluation of vessel capacities had a direct impact on the calculation of state revenue. Diouf stated that reevaluating these capacities led to increased revenue for the public treasury. Furthermore, she reported cases where exploitation licenses remained active despite the expiration of mandatory documents, such as insurance policies and navigability certificates. This situation highlights potential weaknesses in the system.
Between April and December 2024, Diouf strengthened controls by making the issuance and renewal of licenses conditional on the conformity of all administrative documents and payment of dues and fines. She emphasized that a Consultative Commission, comprising 14 members from different administrations, examines license requests and provides an opinion. However, the final decision lies with the minister, sparking concerns among lawmakers.
The transmission of certain dossiers to commission members was also criticized for being tardy. The issue of sanctions for maritime infractions was addressed, with Diouf explaining that the Directorate of Fisheries Protection and Surveillance is responsible for establishing infractions, while a special commission proposes sanctions. According to the Fisheries Code, fines and financial transactions are prioritized over imprisonment.
The parliamentary inquiry examined several cases from 2018 and 2019, including those of the vessels Fada and Ya Faama. The hearings will continue to verify the various testimonies against administrative documents related to fishing license management. The goal is to shed light on the practices surrounding fishing licenses in Senegal.
Babacar Ngom reported on the ongoing investigation, which aims to confront different depositions with administrative documents. The examination of these documents will help identify those responsible for any irregularities and determine the necessary actions to take. The inquiry's findings are expected to have significant implications for the country's fishing industry.
The fishing sector plays a vital role in Senegal's economy, and the effective management of fishing licenses is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of marine resources. The revelations made by Fatou Diouf underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in the license allocation process. The authorities will likely face pressure to implement reforms to prevent similar irregularities in the future.
Key points
- Ex-minister Fatou Diouf exposed irregularities in Senegal's fishing license system, including undervalued vessel capacities and expired insurance policies.
- The revaluation of vessel capacities led to increased revenue for the public treasury.
- The parliamentary inquiry will continue to examine administrative documents and verify testimonies to identify those responsible for any irregularities.
