Since 2017, the people of Sanyang, a coastal village in Gambia have had to reckon with the impact of overfishing on their livelihoods, environment, and access to protein. This is due to the massive scale of overfishing that has been carried out over the years by foreign industrial trawlers and fishmeal factories.
Everyone in the community has been impacted, from:
- The artisanal fishermen who face unfair competition from foreign boats, operating legally and illegally near the shore and damaging their nets
- The fish smokers, dryers, and traders (mainly women) who must face rising costs due to fish scarcity
- The local businesses such as restaurants, lodges, and juice bars who are struggling due to fish scarcity, higher prices, and the unpleasant odor from the fishmeal factory
Send an email to the President of Gambia to urge him to act now.
This year, African leaders will meet from 4 – 8 September 2023, for African Climate Week in Nairobi. Sustainable climate action to safeguard the human rights of individuals and communities must be taken.
With a single email you can join our call to protect the livelihoods and rights of people in Sanyang. Your support can help bring lasting change.
Marta Colomer
West and Central Africa Senior Campaigner
Amnesty International
NB. For more details, watch this explanatory video to get some useful information on the situation.