Crowds Of Sardinella Fishers And Fish Buyers At Mbour Landing Site, Senegal Editorial Photo

Mbour is a coastal town situated in the Petite Cote region of Senegal, south of Dakar. It is a key fishing and landing site for Sardinella, a sardine-like pelagic fish that is a staple food item for most Senegalese. Each afternoon, thousands of people congregate in the beach to wait for the Sardinella artisanal fishers to land their catch. Sardinella also provides livelihoods to thousands of women who work in the artisanal fish processing industry. Sardinella stocks are in danger due to the increasing fishing effort and especially due to the booming demand from the fishmeal industry. Fishmeal factories outcompete the artisanal processors because they are able to pay higher prices for the fish. This is driving the fish processor and traditional fish buyers out of work and is putting the food security of the Senegalese people in jeopardy.