Illegal shark finning in Dakar
Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 20, 2026
The report may increase regulatory scrutiny on distant water fishing fleets, potentially affecting operations of Chinese and Taiwanese fishing companies. However, direct market impact is limited as the event primarily concerns environmental and conservation issues.
A report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) reveals that dozens of Chinese and Taiwanese longline tuna vessels have been landing illegal shark fins at the port of Senegal — Dakar, Senegal. The practice, known as finning, involves removing fins from live sharks and discarding the body, which is largely prohibited. The EJF interviewed 124 Indonesian and Filipino fishers who worked on these vessels between 2020 and 2025, finding that 41 of 71 vessels that visited Senegal — Dakar participated in finning, with 24 landing fins there. The fins are shipped to Asia for shark fin soup. The report highlights the rapid decline of global shark populations, with a 71% drop since 1970, and calls for a 'fins naturally attached' policy to prevent finning. Greenpeace also observed apparent finning on a Spanish-flagged vessel off West Africa.
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