President Macky Sall has been nominated for the Award "Excellence in National Stewardship of the Ocean"

Dakar, 24 January 2013 - Greenpeace presents its congratulations to President Macky Sall who just won the award "Excellence in National Stewardship of the Ocean 1" IN the 6th Edition of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards.

This annual award is given to the representative of a nation whose policies contribute to the protection and restoration of THE oceans for the benefit of  the communities that depend on that for their ²food and livelihoods.

"Since the beginning of his leadership of Senegal, President Macky Sall has made strong and courageous decisions that go in the direction of preserving the nation's fisheries. This award is a recognition of his political commitment, "said Michael Obrien Onyeka, Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa.

Among the notable measures taken by President Sall are the cancellation, in April 2012, of 29 illegal fishing authorizations ² granted by the former government to foreign pelagic trawlers which where plundering marine resources and endangering the livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities. In addition, he decided to close the waters under Senegalese jurisdiction to pelagic trawlers for a period of at least one year.

During the 42nd United Nations Conference on Sustainable development (RIO+20) and the 16th Conference of "Francophonie" Macky Sall demonstrated his commitment in the international arena.

Greenpeace, which proposed President Macky Sall to the selection committee, wishes to see him continue to promote marine reserves and good governance in fishery resources management at the regional level.

Contacts:

Ahmed Diame, Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Africa. Tel: +221773328994.ahmed.diame@greenpeace.org

Bakary Coulibaly, Oceans Communications Officer Greenpeace Africa. Tel: +221 773336265.bkouliba@greenpeace.org

Senegal revokes licences of foreign fishing trawlers

Senegal Fishing

Government demands that 29 ships offload their catches before leaving the west African country's territorial waters.

The new government of Senegal has cancelled the licences of 29 foreign fishing trawlers, demanding that they offload their catches in the capital Dakar before leaving the west African country's territorial waters.

The dramatic move on Tuesday by fisheries minister Pape Diouf follows growing resentment at overfishing and alleged corruption of the previous government's licencing system. It is expected to defuse threats by Senegal's 52,000 small-scale inshore fishermen to take direct action against the owners of foreign trawlers.

In 2006, Senegal cancelled its licencing agreements with the heavily subsidised EU fleet in an attempt to protect its industry from foreign vessels. But dozens of giant 10,000-tonne factory ships registered in Russia, Lithuania, Morocco, Ukraine, Mauritius, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, China, Belize and elsewhere were able to acquire new licences. Using satellite technology and often working together, they have been able to take hundreds of tonnes of fish a day.

Read the rest of the story by  John Vidal.....

Senegal revokes licences of foreign fishing trawlers....