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.