Every morning, Gora Fall, a 25-year-old fisherman in Senegal’s northern city of Saint-Louis, sets out to sea with a mix of hope and despair. Once a thriving fishing hub, Saint-Louis has seen its fortunes decline sharply, leaving small-scale fishermen like Fall battling dwindling catches and rising uncertainty. “Before, we worked to live, but now we just work to survive,” he says.
The hardship is widely blamed on the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, a massive liquefied natural gas facility operated by BP in partnership with Kosmos Energy, Petrosen, and Mauritania’s SMH. Situated offshore on the Senegal-Mauritania maritime border, the multi-billion-dollar project promises to generate more than 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually for the next two decades. While the project is hailed as a milestone in Africa’s energy future, it has left Saint-Louis’ fishing community, the lifeblood of the city where 90% of residents depend on fishing, struggling for survival.
The exclusion zone surrounding the offshore platform has restricted fishermen’s access to the natural reef known locally as Diattara, one of the richest fishing grounds in the area. Fall says approaching the gas facility is forbidden under threat of confiscation or destruction of fishing gear. Many fishermen argue that the zone directly undermines their livelihoods, especially since international trawlers already put heavy pressure on Senegal’s waters. “We are very frustrated,” Fall explains. “Now we can stay until 4pm twiddling our thumbs, without fish.”
Fishing is one of Senegal’s most vital industries, employing more than 60,000 people directly and over half a million indirectly. But Saint-Louis’ artisanal fishermen report earning just a fraction of what they once did. While a single trip previously yielded between $445 and $625, today, many struggle to make even $90. This collapse is pushing fishermen to abandon the trade altogether, seeking alternative jobs in carpentry or even migrating to Europe. One former fisherman, Saer Diop, has turned to canoe carpentry, saying, “Currently, I earn a better living with carpentry than with fishing.”
The crisis also affects women who dominate the fish processing trade. Many have lost their jobs due to reduced catches. “Fish has become too expensive, transport costs are high. Today, we earn just enough to cover expenses,” says Diamol Sène, a mother of 10. She adds that if fishermen could return with abundant catches, processing jobs would also rebound.
BP insists it is committed to responsible operations, noting that safety zones around platforms are standard practice. It points out that concerns over Senegal’s fish stocks predate the project. The company also highlights ongoing efforts to build artificial reefs to offset restrictions, although local fishermen claim promises remain largely unfulfilled. While feasibility studies identified several sites for reef deployment, only one is currently planned, with completion expected by the end of 2025. Fishermen, however, argue that the chosen location is too close to shore and unlikely to attract fish.
The project has also raised environmental concerns. In February 2025, a gas leak from one of BP’s wells caused alarm among locals and environmental activists. Greenpeace Africa warned that leaks could devastate marine ecosystems, though both BP and the Senegalese government described the impact as “negligible” and insisted the well was swiftly repaired.
Despite official reassurances, Saint-Louis fishermen remain skeptical. Representatives of artisanal fishers say the project has robbed them of free access to their cherished sea, jeopardizing their future. Many accuse the government of siding with BP at their expense.
As Senegal celebrates its entry into the global energy market, the reality in Saint-Louis paints a stark contrast. For fishermen like Gora Fall, the promise of national economic prosperity feels hollow against the backdrop of empty nets and shrinking incomes. With livelihoods on the line and frustration growing, Saint-Louis’ fishing families fear their centuries-old tradition may soon vanish sacrificed for the country’s gas boom.
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