The Network of Women Transformers in Senegal (REFEPAS), in partnership with the Blue Ventures Conservation (BVC) center, organized a two-day national symposium on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, for the protection of fishing in Senegal.

This meeting, which is part of the project "Defending artisanal fishers against industrial overfishing in coastal exclusion zones and marine protected areas in West and Central Africa", brought together fishing stakeholders and professional organizations to discuss the challenges facing artisanal fishing.

The objective is to create a participatory and inclusive framework to discuss protection, identify the causes and threats that compromise sustainability, and formulate sustainable development strategies for artisanal fishing.

Speaking at the event, the head of the Artisanal Fisheries Division at the Directorate of Maritime Fisheries, Sidya Diouf, recalled that the State has put in place consultation frameworks to discuss the problems and difficulties encountered by artisanal fishing stakeholders and to find solutions.

According to him, these consultation frameworks have enabled the implementation of initiatives at certain sites, including the construction of infrastructure for the redevelopment of processing sites and fishing wharves.

He also stressed that artisanal fishing, which plays an important role in food security, contributes to more than 70% of fish landings in Senegal and helps strengthen social concerns and the well-being of populations, particularly in rural areas where access to fish is easier than buying meat.

For him, it is therefore crucial to find solutions to support this sector and to fight against illegal fishing, by supporting the sub-regional fisheries commission in its work to combat IUU fishing.

Aïssata Daouda Dia, representing the NGO Blue Ventures Conservation (BVC), emphasized the importance of the initiative and reaffirmed BVC's commitment to supporting professional fishing organizations and communities in their fight for the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources. "Artisanal fishing is not a secondary sector; it feeds the country, supports thousands of families, and contributes to national food security," she stated. She noted that despite the crucial role of women in artisanal fishing (processing, marketing, etc.), they are often excluded from decision-making bodies.

She also called on the women of REFEPAS to take their place in decision-making bodies and to continue their fight for the defense of artisanal fishing.

The president of the Network of Women Artisanal Fisheries of Senegal (REFEPAS), Diaba Diop, advocated for better representation of women in decision-making bodies, particularly in the governance structures of the fisheries sector. "We are calling for the full involvement of women in the sector, in the governing bodies, and also for our long-awaited decree to be finalized so that we can at least identify who is a female fish processor and who is not," she stated. She also emphasized the importance of artisanal fishing for local communities, deploring the conflicts that often pit artisanal fishers against industrial fishers. "We expect this conference to produce strong recommendations to defend the profession of artisanal fishers, which is also ours," she declared, adding that women fish processors play a vital role in the fisheries sector.

Diaba Diop thanked the Minister of Fisheries for his support while hoping for the finalization of the decree which, according to her, aims to identify women processors and give them official recognition.