Senegal's Fishermen Struggle Amidst BP's Gas Project

Mon Oct 20 2025 03:05:52 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Fishermen in Senegal's Saint-Louis area express growing frustration as BP's Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas project restricts their access to fishing grounds, leading to dwindling catches and economic hardship.

In Saint-Louis, Senegal, local fishermen are facing a crisis fueled by BP's gas project, which they claim limits their fishing opportunities due to safety zones around the new liquefied natural gas platform. Many express concern over their livelihoods as catches shrink and unemployment rises among those reliant on the fishing industry. BP defends its practices, attributing the challenges faced by local fishermen to pre-existing issues. The situation highlights the tension between local economies and multinational energy ventures.

Every day, Gora Fall, a fisherman in Senegal's northern city of Saint-Louis, heads to sea with a mix of emotions: hope and frustration.

He hopes he will get a better catch than the previous day, yet he is frustrated by the thought that whatever he finds might not meet his needs.

Before, we worked to live, but now we just work to survive, says the 25-year-old.

Like him, many other small-scale, traditional fishermen in Saint-Louis - a major fishing hub - are facing hard times.

The BBC has spoken to several fishermen and people linked to the fishing trade who all point to one cause - a liquefied natural gas platform that sits on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania, off the coast of Saint-Louis.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project is operated by the British multinational oil and gas giant BP as part of a joint venture with Kosmos Energy, as well as Petrosen and SMH, the national oil companies of Senegal and Mauritania respectively.

BP, which has a 56% working interest in the project, began its operation in Senegal in 2017 after the discovery of natural gas two years earlier.

Described as one of the deepest and most complex gas development schemes in Africa, the first phase of the multi-billion dollar offshore project is expected to produce roughly 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year for over 20 years.

However, residents of Saint-Louis say this also comes with restrictions on fishing which 90% of the city's population of over 250,000 rely on for a livelihood.

On a Tuesday morning, with weather conditions declared favourable, Mr Fall readies his wooden canoe painted with patterns of red, blue, yellow and other colours.

With his hook and bait, he sets off for the day's fishing trip.

After motoring 10km (6.2 miles) offshore, the young fisherman approaches the giant gas facility. But he says he cannot get any closer due to a 500m exclusion zone which restricts fishing.

The authorities forbid us to fish in that area of the platform, under penalty of confiscation or even destruction of our fishing equipment if we access it, Mr Fall tells the BBC.

Fishermen say the platform is built around a natural reef rich with fish – the restrictions mean their catches are smaller and they barely earn a living. This has compounded the difficulties they already faced with competition for fish from large international trawlers.

We are very frustrated, says Mr Fall.

BP insists it is committed to operating responsibly alongside its partners and local communities.

While celebrating the launch of gas exports from the facility in April 2025, the energy minister called for continuous vigilance to guarantee the efficiency, transparency and sustainability of economic benefits for the population.

However, many fishermen feel the promise of economic prosperity comes with a great cost, stressing that they only have the sea to live on.