VOA慢速英語:塞內加爾海洋守護者協會反對非法捕魚
The government of Senegal and the organization Sea Shepherd havelaunched a campaign against illegal fishing along the country’s coast. Thenonprofit group is helping to prevent the poaching of hundreds of thousands oftons of tuna, swordfish and sharks each year.
People call the program “Sunu Gaal.” That is a local term meaning “mycanoe.” The Sea Shepherd is providing a boat with a crew trained to helpcatch poachers. Senegalese naval ships are also involved in the campaign.
Lamia Essemlali is leading Sea Shepherd’s effort to help guard theSenegalese coast.
“What we are doing is documenting illegal vessels and reporting to the Navy. And right now the next stage is to have the officials who are on board with us to be able to board those vessels and to check into whether they arecomplying.”
Some crews use nets and other equipment to hide the names of their ships. Ms. Essemlali said poaching vessels recently have been flying theSenegalese flag. Others ships do have the required documents. But shesaid they still may be breaking international and Senegalese law.
She said her group’s increased guarding of the waters has been effective.
“We have a good network of informants that can help us target the illegalfishing vessels. Now they are more careful because the word came out thatSenegal is trying to stop that illegal fishing.”
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Sea Shepherd is helping to monitor Senegal's 700 meters long coastline. (Sea Shepherd) |
She said poachers used to catch fish in daylight. But she said they are beingmore careful now. They poach at night, and flee if they think they are beingfollowed.
“They are more cautious. They stand behind the border and they come atnight and they just run away across the border when they feel they are beingfollowed.”
The Sea Shepherd official said the campaign also means to educate buyersof fish in industrial countries. She said they should know that the food they eatcomes from an area that depends on legal exports of fish to make money andfeed people.
Health experts estimate that fish provide more than 66 percent of animalprotein eaten in West Africa. The United Nations Food and AgricultureOrganization says fisheries and linked industries provide 25 percent of allemployment in West Africa.
Other numbers show there are hundreds of thousands of jobs related to fishin Senegal, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
European Union rules have made it easier to find out where fish are caught. Ships and governments that do not cooperate may be barred from thewaters. Reports say three countries right now could face such restrictions. Eight other nations have been asked to fix their problems or face limitations ontheir seafood exports to the E.U.
I’m Christopher Cruise.
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