The findings, documented in a new EJF film, are based on interviews with 124 fishers who worked on board Chinese and Taiwanese-owned tuna longliners between 2020 and 2026.
The majority reported witnessing shark finning, the illegal practice of removing sharks’ fins before discarding their bodies at sea. According to the investigation, some sharks were still alive when returned to the water.
Researchers linked the testimonies to dozens of vessels using Dakar, one of Africa’s busiest fishing ports and a key hub for Atlantic distant-water fleets. Forty-seven fishers, who had served aboard 24 vessels, said shark fins were landed in Dakar either directly or after being transferred at sea to carrier vessels.
Interviewees also described efforts to conceal the activity, including hiding fins on board, dumping evidence before inspections, unloading catches under cover of darkness and confiscating crew members’ mobile phones to delete photographs and videos.
The investigation questions the effectiveness of port inspections in Senegal, despite the country’s commitments under the Port State Measures Agreement, which aims to prevent illegally caught seafood entering international markets.
“When fishing vessels can land products without effective scrutiny, illegal shark finning becomes easier to hide and harder to stop,” said Steve Trent, chief executive and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
“Sharks play an essential role in maintaining healthy oceans. Protecting them is fundamental to sustainable fisheries, food security and the future of coastal communities.”
EJF said more than 1,800 tonnes of tuna and tuna-like products were exported directly from Senegal to Japan in 2024, while processors in Thailand and Singapore also imported tuna landed in Dakar before exporting products to the European Union, South Korea and the United States.
The organisation is urging Senegal to strengthen inspections, require all sharks to be landed with their fins naturally attached and fully implement international fisheries transparency measures.
