Environmental activists Ahmed Manjang and Lamin Jassey from Gunjur, Mustapha Manneh, Journalist and activist from Kartong are currently attending an International workshop; Norte passion! Tackling industrial fishmeal and fish oil production in West Africa.
The tree day event which runs from 29 November to December 1st is taking place at Hotel Fleur de Lys Plateau, in the Senegalese capital; Dakar. Participants were drawn from The Gambia, Mauritania, Senegal, UK, Holland, and America.
The workshop aims to launch a collaborative three-year program (‘Notre Poisson’) designed to prevent the powerful and growing fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) industry in West Africa from destroying fish stocks and livelihoods and eroding food sovereignty. The three-day workshop is taking place in Dakar and Kayar, where Notre Poisson partner organizations came together to meet community members of Kayar who are affected by fishmeal production.
Over the course of the three days, participants will discuss key objectives and exchange knowledge and experiences regarding the impacts of fishmeal and fish oil production on lives and livelihoods in the West African region. The workshop will also talk about the international supply chains which are driving the expansion of the industry in West Africa.
Participants in the workshop include representatives from the following organisations alongside key stakeholders from Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia:
Partners
• Regional Network of West Africa Marine Protected Areas (RAMPAO)
• The West African Association for The Development of Artisanal Fisheries (WADAF/ADEAPA)
• Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC)
• Greenpeace {GPAF)
• University of Lancaster
• DeSmog
• Feedback Global
• Feedback EU
Collaborative organization
• Regional Partnership for Marine and Coastal Conservation in West Africa (PRCM)
• Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC)
The goal of the three-day workshop at Notre Poisson is to secure legislative and policy changes via a three-year program of coordinated research, investigation, and advocacy designed to influence politicians and policymakers and equip civil society and consumers with the knowledge and tools to demand policies and actions that protect their ecosystems and support food sovereignty of West African communities and nations.
As part of this, Norte Passion aims to force change in this industry and those associated with it, by making fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) sourcing a key issue for investors and a material issue for both EU and non-EU aquaculture producers, their suppliers, and retailers. The workshop will further seek to turn FMFO into a key issue of concern for a broad group of diverse civil society actors so that they incorporate this issue into their campaigning effectively.
On the opening day of the workshop, Lamin Jassey spoke on issues arising from fishmeal factories in the Gambia and problems facing environmental activists, with the panel being chaired by Mustapha Manneh.
On Thursday, Ahmed Manjang will present a paper on the chronology of fishmeal production in The Gambia, and the health, environmental and social impact they have on the populace. The Workshop continues in Kayar today, a fishing town fifty kilometers from the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Kayar is the first organisation in Senegal to file a lawsuit against a fishmeal company in Senegal.