Films
Cut & Run: Exposing Senegal as a gateway for the global shark fin trade
Tuna boats dock in Dakar by day. By night, illegal shark fins are smuggled ashore - and the world's seafood supply is funding it. Senegal's port of Dakar is one of West Africa's busiest fishing hubs - and, a new EJF investigation reveals, a key gateway for the illegal global shark fin trade. Distant-water tuna longliners, many flagged to China and Taiwan, land their legal catch in daylight. But under cover of night, illegal shark fins are trafficked ashore, hidden among other cargo and, according to crew testimony, moved past inspectors with bribes. 'Cut & Run' draws on testimony from 87 Indonesian and Filipino crew members who spoke to EJF anonymously about the scale of the operation: sharks caught and finned on captain's orders, their bodies dumped at sea, their fins bound for lucrative markets in Asia. Dakar is a designated port under the Port State Measures Agreement, obligating Senegal to screen vessels and block illegal catch - obligations this investigation shows are being routinely evaded.
Cut & Run: Exposing Senegal as a gateway for the global shark fin trade
Tuna boats dock in Dakar by day. By night, illegal shark fins are smuggled ashore - and the world's seafood supply is funding it.
Senegal's port of Dakar is one of West Africa's busiest fishing hubs - and, a new EJF investigation reveals, a key gateway for the illegal global shark fin trade. Distant-water tuna longliners, many flagged to China and Taiwan, land their legal catch in daylight. But under cover of night, illegal shark fins are trafficked ashore, hidden among other cargo and, according to crew testimony, moved past inspectors with bribes.
'Cut & Run' draws on testimony from 87 Indonesian and Filipino crew members who spoke to EJF anonymously about the scale of the operation: sharks caught and finned on captain's orders, their bodies dumped at sea, their fins bound for lucrative markets in Asia. Dakar is a designated port under the Port State Measures Agreement, obligating Senegal to screen vessels and block illegal catch - obligations this investigation shows are being routinely evaded.
Out of Sight, Out of Control: The global boom in destructive squid fishing
EJF’s latest investigation into unregulated squid fishing on the high seas has uncovered illegal fishing and human rights abuses on a shocking scale.
Every year, hundreds of industrial fishing vessels disappear into some of the most remote and unregulated waters on earth, where they fish for squid beyond the reach of any law, any observer, and any accountability.
Over the last 5 years, EJF investigators have gathered testimony and footage from over 400 crew members who have worked on board distant water squid vessels. What they have documented is a system built on environmental destruction and forced labour. Rampant overfishing, the killing of protected species, and widespread human rights violations are endemic across the global squid industry.
Walls of Death: Illegal Driftnetting in the Mediterranean
Among the most destructive fishing methods ever used, driftnets have been banned in the Mediterranean for decades - but EJF's latest investigation reveals they never really went away.
Discarded: Hidden Overfishing in the EU
In European waters, fish are caught and dumped at sea to make room for more valuable catch. This practice, known as highgrading, is illegal, but unfortunately most cases go unreported.
This extremely wasteful and unsustainable practice puts pressure on struggling ecosystems and harms honest fishers’ livelihoods. Transparency is the key to protecting these ecosystems and ending this widespread illegal practice.
The High Seas: A Global Deal to Protect Our Oceans
The UN High Seas Treaty has entered into force, and we celebrate this exciting moment for ocean protection. It is evidence that a rules-based order can still deliver in the face of escalating environmental breakdown.
Before You Board: The Hidden Risks of Distant Water Fishing
Every year, thousands of Indonesians work as fishers on foreign boats, promised high wages for work abroad. However, the reality of life at sea can be very different from what is promised. Once onboard, fishers are routinely overworked, abused, and exploited.
Are you thinking of taking a job on a distant water fishing vessel? Watch out for these warning signs:
🚩 The recruitment agency doesn't have a valid licence or has a bad reputation. A company's SIUKAK/SIUPPAK permit can be found on the official Ministry of Transportation website, while its SIP3MI permit can be checked on the Ministry of KP2MI website.
🚩 The recruitment agency offers loans
Loans through banks or cash advances from companies are often used to pressure crew into accepting low salaries or prevent them from terminating their employment contracts.
🚩 Lack of transparency about salary
The recruitment agency receives crew's salary in advance before transferring it to their personal account. This creates an opportunity for companies to illegally "take a share" of crew's salary.
🚩 Retention of identity documents
Confiscation of passports, ID cards, family cards, and other personal documents controls migrant workers' movements while working.
🚩 Offered work on Chinese-flagged ships
Several human rights organisations have documented various human rights violations and allegations of forced labor against Indonesian migrant workers on Chinese-flagged ships.
(The footage used is illustrative and does not necessarily show the boats discussed by the fishers.)
The Forests of Life: How Mangroves Sustain Ghana's Fisheries, Coastline, and Climate – an EJF film
Mangroves sustain communities, shield coasts, and store vast amounts of carbon. In Ghana they are vanishing fast – but their protection is within reach through safeguarding, restoration, and community leadership.
In partnership with Hen Mpoano, watch our short documentary, which reveals how local action and stronger policy can revive these vital ecosystems.
Together we are strong: Liberia's fishmongers building fairer fisheries
Communities for Fisheries: The lasting impact – an EJF film
Reports
Cut & Run: Exposing Senegal as a gateway for the global shark fin trade
This report reveals extensive shark finning on board Chinese and Taiwanese-owned tuna vessels that call at Dakar, Senegal's main fishing port. Drawing on first-hand testimony from fishers who witnessed this cruel and often illegal practice, the report exposes how fins were routinely landed in Dakar, with enforcement at the port easily evaded or non-existent. It also reveals the high risk of tuna linked to shark finning entering global supply chains. Without urgent action from Senegal and international regulators to close these loopholes, the trade of shark fins will continue unchecked.
This report reveals extensive shark finning on board Chinese and Taiwanese-owned tuna vessels that call at Dakar, Senegal's main fishing port. Drawing on first-hand testimony from fishers who witnessed this cruel and often illegal practice, the report exposes how fins were routinely landed in Dakar, with enforcement at the port easily evaded or non-existent. It also reveals the high risk of tuna linked to shark finning entering global supply chains. Without urgent action from Senegal and international regulators to close these loopholes, the trade of shark fins will continue unchecked.
Making the Landing Obligation Work: Tackling Europe’s Bycatch Crisis Through Fisheries Transparency - Summary: The EU’s Landing Obligation (LO) is intended to reduce waste, encourage selective fishing and improve the catch information used to manage populations. For catches within the LO scope, fishers must retain, record and land catches, including bycatch, and count them against quota where applicable, subject to defined exemptions. More than a decade after the obligation was phased in, and seven years after it became fully applicable, these objectives have not been achieved. This is a summary of the longer briefing from EJF and Oceana, which provides a roadmap for ensuring the EU Landing Obligation’s full implementation.
The EU’s Landing Obligation (LO) is intended to reduce waste, encourage selective fishing and improve the catch information used to manage populations. For catches within the LO scope, fishers must retain, record and land catches, including bycatch, and count them against quota where applicable, subject to defined exemptions. More than a decade after the obligation was phased in, and seven years after it became fully applicable, these objectives have not been achieved.
This is a summary of the the longer briefing from EJF and Oceana, which provides a roadmap for ensuring the EU Landing Obligation’s full implementation.
Making the Landing Obligation Work: Tackling Europe’s Bycatch Crisis Through Fisheries Transparency: The EU’s Landing Obligation (LO) is intended to reduce waste, encourage selective fishing and improve the catch information used to manage populations. For catches within the LO scope, fishers must retain, record and land catches, including bycatch, and count them against quota where applicable, subject to defined exemptions. More than a decade after the obligation was phased in, and seven years after it became fully applicable, these objectives have not been achieved. This briefing from EJF and Oceana provides a roadmap for ensuring the EU Landing Obligation’s full implementation.
The EU’s Landing Obligation (LO) is intended to reduce waste, encourage selective fishing and improve the catch information used to manage populations. For catches within the LO scope, fishers must retain, record and land catches, including bycatch, and count them against quota where applicable, subject to defined exemptions. More than a decade after the obligation was phased in, and seven years after it became fully applicable, these objectives have not been achieved.
This briefing from EJF and Oceana provides a roadmap for ensuring the EU Landing Obligation’s full implementation.
Couper et disparaître: le Sénégal, plaque tournante du commerce mondial des ailerons de requin: Ce rapport met au jour l’ampleur de l’aileronnage des requins à bord de thoniers chinois et taïwanais faisant escale à Dakar, principal port de pêche du Sénégal. S’appuyant sur les témoignages de pêcheurs ayant observé ces pratiques, il révèle que des ailerons de requins étaient régulièrement débarqués à Dakar, où les contrôles portuaires faisaient défaut. Le rapport met également en évidence le risque que du thon issu de navires pratiquant l’aileronnage des requins alimente les chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales. Le commerce des ailerons de requins reste possible en raison de ces failles de contrôle, qui doivent être comblées de toute urgence.
Ce rapport met au jour l’ampleur de l’aileronnage des requins à bord de thoniers chinois et taïwanais faisant escale à Dakar, principal port de pêche du Sénégal.
S’appuyant sur les témoignages de pêcheurs ayant observé ces pratiques, il révèle que des ailerons de requins étaient régulièrement débarqués à Dakar, où les contrôles portuaires faisaient défaut. Le rapport met également en évidence le risque que du thon issu de navires pratiquant l’aileronnage des requins alimente les chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales.
Le commerce des ailerons de requins reste possible en raison de ces failles de contrôle, qui doivent être comblées de toute urgence.
La loi européenne sur les océans : Assurer l’avenir des océans de l’Europe: La sécurité, la compétitivité et la résilience futures de l’Europe se joueront en mer. Ce déficit de mise en œuvre devient une vulnérabilité stratégique pour l’Europe, affaiblissant la productivité de la pêche, les infrastructures offshore, les chaînes d’approvisionnement maritimes et la stabilité côtière. La loi européenne sur les océans est l’occasion de passer des engagements à la concrétisation, en garantissant que 100 % des eaux de l’UE soient gérées de manière durable dans le respect des limites écologiques. Cette note d’orientation présente deux impératifs stratégiques pour la loi sur les océans.
La sécurité, la compétitivité et la résilience futures de l’Europe se joueront en mer. Ce déficit de mise en œuvre devient une vulnérabilité stratégique pour l’Europe, affaiblissant la productivité de la pêche, les infrastructures offshore, les chaînes d’approvisionnement maritimes et la stabilité côtière. La loi européenne sur les océans est l’occasion de passer des engagements à la concrétisation, en garantissant que 100 % des eaux de l’UE soient gérées de manière durable dans le respect des limites écologiques. Cette note d’orientation présente deux impératifs stratégiques pour la loi sur les océans.
La loi européenne sur les océans: Concrétiser la gouvernance des océans: La loi européenne sur les océans représente une occasion cruciale de passer d’engagements fragmentés à une mise en œuvre et à des résultats mesurables, tout en créant un cadre plus cohérent et plus efficace pour la gouvernance des océans au sein de l’UE. Elle ne doit toutefois pas devenir un levier de déréglementation visant à affaiblir les protections environnementales. Cette note d’orientation présente nos recommandations concernant la loi sur les océans, afin de garantir qu’elle renforce la sécurité économique, la résilience maritime et l’autonomie stratégique de l’Europe.
La loi européenne sur les océans représente une occasion cruciale de passer d’engagements fragmentés à une mise en œuvre et à des résultats mesurables, tout en créant un cadre plus cohérent et plus efficace pour la gouvernance des océans au sein de l’UE. Elle ne doit toutefois pas devenir un levier de déréglementation visant à affaiblir les protections environnementales. Cette note d’orientation présente nos recommandations concernant la loi sur les océans, afin de garantir qu’elle renforce la sécurité économique, la résilience maritime et l’autonomie stratégique de l’Europe.
La Ley Europea del Océano: Transformando la gobernanza oceánica en resultados: La Ley Europea de los Océanos representa una oportunidad crucial para pasar de compromisos fragmentados a la aplicación y a resultados cuantificables, al tiempo que se crea un marco más coherente y eficaz para la gobernanza oceánica de la UE. Sin embargo, no debe convertirse en un instrumento de desregulación que debilite la protección del medio ambiente. Este informe de políticas expone nuestras recomendaciones para la Ley de los Océanos, con el fin de garantizar que contribuya a la seguridad económica, la resiliencia marítima y la autonomía estratégica de Europa.
La Ley Europea de los Océanos representa una oportunidad crucial para pasar de compromisos fragmentados a la aplicación y a resultados cuantificables, al tiempo que se crea un marco más coherente y eficaz para la gobernanza oceánica de la UE. Sin embargo, no debe convertirse en un instrumento de desregulación que debilite la protección del medio ambiente. Este informe de políticas expone nuestras recomendaciones para la Ley de los Océanos, con el fin de garantizar que contribuya a la seguridad económica, la resiliencia marítima y la autonomía estratégica de Europa.