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. After motoring 10km offshore, he approaches the giant gas facility, but cannot get any closer due to a 500m exclusion zone which restricts fishing.
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. Compounded by the competition from large international trawlers, many are left wondering how to sustain their families. BP states that safety zones around infrastructure are standard practice to protect people and assets.
While the project is heralded by the Senegalese government as one that strengthens the country's position on the global energy scene, local fishermen feel the promise of economic prosperity comes at a great cost. They say they face pressure to adapt or abandon their trade as they only have the sea to live on.
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. After motoring 10km offshore, he approaches the giant gas facility, but cannot get any closer due to a 500m exclusion zone which restricts fishing.
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. Compounded by the competition from large international trawlers, many are left wondering how to sustain their families. BP states that safety zones around infrastructure are standard practice to protect people and assets.
While the project is heralded by the Senegalese government as one that strengthens the country's position on the global energy scene, local fishermen feel the promise of economic prosperity comes at a great cost. They say they face pressure to adapt or abandon their trade as they only have the sea to live on.
