The African Fishermen Who Blame Chinese Trawlers for Their Woes

The sun-kissed shores of Sierra Leone’s Sherbo Island hide a dark reality. For local fishermen who eke out a living from these waters, their livelihoods are being ravaged by foreign trawlers that operate with impunity in West Africa’s exclusive economic zone.

A 2024 global report estimated that 40% of the world’s unlicensed catch comes from West African waters, resulting in losses of over $10 billion for the region and threatening the food security of millions. Local fishermen have reported a staggering 40% decline in average catches over the past two years.

Marie Pierre, a shore fisherman on Sherbo Island, recounts tales of international trawlers deliberately cutting lines and hauling off their catch at night, leaving local fishermen with nothing but discarded jellyfish and damaged nets.

Chinese vessels are increasingly implicated in these illicit activities. Steve Trent, CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, says that “the vast majority” of international ships operating off Sierra Leone’s coast are from China. This is not a new phenomenon – South Korean and Taiwanese vessels have been involved in similar transgressions in the past – but the scale of Chinese involvement has reached alarming proportions.

Official corruption is a key factor in this crisis, with local fishermen claiming that their complaints fall on deaf ears due to bribery of government authorities. Thomas Turay, president of Sierra Leone’s Fishermen’s Union, says, “The sea belongs to us, but for foreign trawlers, they come at night and violate the seven-mile exclusion zone.”

In an effort to address this crisis, the government has implemented measures such as mandatory transponders on international vessels and routine inspections. However, these initiatives have been undermined by allegations of bribery and corruption within the fisheries ministry.

Sheku Sei, director at the Sierra Leone Ministry of Fisheries, disputes these claims, insisting that existing measures are effective in reducing illicit fishing. However, his argument is weakened by reports of shipping companies switching off transponders to avoid international sanctions.

Beijing’s response has been predictable: opaque and dismissive. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a blanket denial last month following allegations of illicit fishing in Latin American waters. This stance is symptomatic of China’s unwillingness to acknowledge its role in perpetuating this crisis and take concrete steps to address it.

Steve Trent calls for increased international pressure on Beijing, including from consumers themselves. He argues that the solution lies not just in better tracking of commercial vessels but also in acknowledging the complicity of governments like China in perpetuating this illicit trade.

As we gaze out at the Atlantic Ocean, it’s clear that our choices as consumers play a significant role in perpetuating this crisis. We can choose to opt for products that have been fished illegally and unsustainably, or we can demand better. The time has come for us to take responsibility for the food on our plates.

The African fishermen who blame Chinese trawlers for their woes are not just victims of a broader problem – they are also a stark reminder of our collective failure to protect the world’s marine resources. It is time for this silence to be broken and the perpetrators brought to account.