Russia Eyes African Fish Stocks Following Resource Exploitation in Other Sectors
DAKAR, โคSenegal – Following extensive involvement in African gold and diamond mining, Russia is now turning its attention to the continent’s โvast fish stocks, sparkingโ concern โขamong local communities and environmental groups.A Russian research vessel, the Atlantniro, recently arrived off the coast of Senegal, โraising fearsโ of a resurgence ofโข controversial fishing agreements that were โขpreviously halted.
The move comes as Russia seeks to expand its economicโ and political influence in Africa, especially in the wake ofโฃ Western sanctions. While Russian officials state the expedition aims to gather “objective and adequate information” about fish populations, critics worryโฃ this is a prelude to exploiting African waters, potentially depleting resources and harming livelihoods. Senegal, once a โขfocal point of Russian fishing activity, is again at the center of the debate, wiht local activists fearing a repeat of past overfishing practices.
the Atlantniro’s arrival hasโข triggered memories of a previous agreement allowing a largeโ Russianโ fleet to fish in Senegalese waters. That deal, criticized for its lack of transparency and detrimental impact โคon local fishermen, was โultimately cancelled โคafter years of protests.โ Now, withโข the vessel’s reappearance, anxieties โขareโ resurfacing about the โฃpotential forโข unsustainable fishing practices and โthe โฃerosion of Senegal’s marine ecosystem.
Local activist Vieux Sall, โฃwho previously organized demonstrations against the earlier Russian deal and even protested by kidnapping the captain of a Chinese fishing vessel over overfishing concerns, expressed dismay.โค “We thought theโ battle was over,” Sall said. “Letting them return would be a disaster.”
Senegalese authorities have so far declined to comment on whether negotiations for a new agreement are underway. however, the presence โคof the atlantniro โค signals a clearโข intent from Russia to assess the potential for large-scale fishing operations in โtheโฃ region.Russian official Bandurin stated โคtheโข expedition’s goal is to collect data and, “If we observe that some reserves areโฃ not inโฃ a very stable state, perhaps we will prepare some proposals โฃfor their rational exploitation.”โข
The situation โฃhighlights a growing trend of external actors seeking to capitalize on Africa’s natural resources, raising questions about sustainable progress, resource management,โฃ and theโ protection of local communities. โThe outcome ofโค thisโข latest development will likely set a precedent for future engagements between Russia and African โnations regarding access toโข valuable marine resources.
Edited by Rachaelโฃ Dottle,โฃ Samโค Dodge, Rodneyโ Jefferson
Photos โขedited by Marie Monteleone
With assistance from Souhail Karam, Tavares Cebola, Peter Guest
