World Bank and GEF Support to Reduce Pressure on Senegal's Fish Stocks

Contacts:  
In Washington: Rachel McColgan-Arnold (202) 458 5299
rmccolgan@worldbank.org
In Dakar: Mademba Ndiaye (221) 33 859 41 40
mademba@worldbanlk.org

DAKAR, December 17, 2008 –The World Bank Board of Directors yesterday approved a US$3.5 million-IDA Credit and a US$6 million grant from the Global Environment facility (GEF) to empower Senegalese communities to reduce fishing pressure on the fish stocks supporting the central coastal fisheries of Senegal.

According to John Virdin, the World Bank’s Task Team task leader, “This support is based on the fact that the coastal fish stocks that provide so many livelihoods, exports and foreign exchange for the country, can be restored if the Government empowers small-scale fishers to more sustainably manage these resources, while at the same time conserving the key habitats that support them”.

He added that this new IDA credit will be devoted to poverty alleviation measures for fishing communities and alternative livelihoods for fishers, fish processors, and fish transporters.
The GEF, will provide support to the others components of the project, including empowering communities to co-manage the coastal Fisheries and rehabilitate the ecosystems essential for these fisheries, as well as providing institutional strengthening for fisheries management. This support from the GEF is part of the World Bank-GEF partnership program on Fisheries for Sub-Saharan Africa under the International Water Focal area.

Mr. Virdin emphasized that the project directly reflects the lessons learned from global good practices of Bank-GEF financed operations in Senegal and also innovations from a multitude of non-Bank financed projects and programs, such as the fisheries co-management initiatives financed by the Government of Japan and feasibility studies on eco-labeling of fish products financed by the Government of Germany.

The significant interest of donors in the sector highlights the importance for Senegal of fishing and associated activities such as processing, marketing, services and other part-time activities that provide more than 600,000 jobs in Senegal (accounting for 17 percent of the labor force, and 10 percent of the rural population).