BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — Kawsu Leigh lay on a fishing boat, his skin a patchwork of burns that matched the worn paint beneath him. Raw and slick, the burns that marked his upper body were a painful reminder of an arson attack from which he is still trying to recover, nearly a year on.
For Leigh, a fellow local sailor working aboard the foreign-owned vessels that navigate West Africa’s waters, it was a day like any other. It spiraled into a tragic ordeal following the attack. This violent incident serves as a focal point for an emerging struggle in West African waters: Gambians are now pitted against each other at sea, caught in a web of market-driven forces and international demands.
Efforts to reform Gambia's commercial fishing industry led to unintended consequences. The Gambian government now mandates that foreign vessels employ a specific percentage of local crew. This rule, meant to empower Gambians, instead makes them inadvertent targets of aggression. Gambians are fighting against each other, uniting some on foreign trawlers against their countrymen.
According to exclusive video footage obtained by the Associated Press, local fishermen, frustrated with perceived illegal activities by foreign trawlers operating significantly closer than allowed, attacked the Egyptian-owned vessel Abu Islam. Leigh expressed shock at having survived and dismay at the rift created among Gambians.
These disputes risk ripping apart fishing communities. Overfishing for global seafood markets is endangering livelihoods, with fears that regional fish stocks could collapse, exacerbating economic and environmental vulnerabilities in a country heavily reliant on tourism and seafood. Faced with dwindling catches and financial strain, many fishermen consider selling their boats to human traffickers or becoming migrants themselves.
The Ndure brothers, Famara and Salif, who have lost much of their fishing equipment to foreign trawlers, recount encounters filled with helplessness. Leigh feels abandoned by the system meant to help. He is not alone. The international fishing vessels’ aggressive tactics, they say, have worsened under President Adama Barrow's administration, which has allowed foreign vessels back into Gambian waters.
“These incidents have cut us deeply,” said Famara, pointing to net lines dwindling from fifteen to three, each valued at a hefty $100—a significant amount for those surviving on an income far lower than $1,000 annually.
While the government requires observers aboard foreign vessels to corroborate violations, many, like Jassey of the Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association, remain skeptical whether any tangible action follows reported incidents. Economic gains from trawler licensing fees allegedly overshadow the locals’ plight.
Even as rare legal cases move forward, such as the arson attack on Leigh's vessel or the deadly crash involving the Majilac 6, justice remains elusive without funds and timely action. Frustration mounts as locals argue foreign vessels dock outside Gambian jurisdiction and dodge necessary confrontations.
Gambia has taken steps to patrol its waters, albeit inconsistently and with international help. However, many foreign vessels, including those owned by the Majilac Group, return to fishing despite arrests and allegations. Observers accuse these trawlers of knowing inspection schedules, allowing evasive maneuvers and continual infractions.
As fish stocks dwindle, food security within Gambia is in jeopardy. Many locals, priced out of consuming their primary catch, turn to imported alternatives. Jassey labels this a “fragile” situation, noting that growing competition with disregarding trawlers leaves many unable to sustain a living. The lure of human traffickers, offering substantial sums for fishing boats, raises concerns about losing young Gambians to risky migration ventures.
Leigh, having exhausted his compensation on medical bills, stands at a crossroads, contemplating a potentially perilous journey to Europe in pursuit of better opportunities. “I just want to work for me and my family to survive,” he quietly affirmed.
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