By Abiodun Abdullahi
Tension is rising along The Gambia's coastline as local fishermen continue to clash with foreign industrial trawlers accused of depleting fish stocks and violating territorial limits.
Under Gambian law, foreign vessels must operate at least nine nautical miles offshore. However, local fishermen say many foreign trawlers—mostly Chinese—routinely fish within restricted zones, destroying nets and threatening livelihoods in coastal communities.
The confrontation has turned violent in recent months. In one incident, two Gambian crew members aboard an Egypt-flagged trawler sustained severe burns after angry locals attacked the vessel with burning stones. One of the victims, Kawsu Leigh, told the Associated Press that he now spends most of his income on medical treatment.
"I go to hustle for my family and then this accident happened. I think my life is finished," Leigh said.
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The Association of Gambia Sailors, which provides foreign vessels with local crew, condemned the attacks, describing them as "very dangerous." Its secretary general, Abdou Sanyang, urged the government to enforce stricter fishing boundaries to prevent further conflict.
"This is becoming a sea war," Sanyang said, calling for regulations that would prevent collisions between artisanal canoes and large trawlers.
But local fishing advocates argue that the government should first clamp down on industrial fleets. Omar Gaye, spokesperson for the Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Development Agency, said industrial trawlers have long exploited the country's waters with little oversight.
"You can't stop small fishermen who depend on daily catches for survival while foreign vessels do whatever they want," Gaye said.
Video evidence obtained by AP shows multiple confrontations at sea, including one where a foreign trawler chased a small canoe while its crew threw stones. At least 11 local fishermen have been killed in similar confrontations over the past 15 years.
Environmentalists warn that destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling—which involves dragging heavy nets across the ocean floor—are destroying marine habitats and threatening food security in the region.
Lamin Jassey, president of the Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association, said The Gambia's fishing situation is at a critical point.
"Our economy and our livelihood depend on the sea," Jassey said. "Ninety-nine percent of Gambians rely on fish because it's cheaper, but now our waters are being emptied."
Analysts say The Gambia's experience mirrors a broader West African challenge, balancing economic partnerships with foreign fleets against protecting local communities' rights and sustainability.
