West Africa remains the global epicenter of illegal fishing. An estimated 40% of the world’s unlicensed catch comes from its waters, according to a 2024 global report., external

The study estimated that this costs West African nations a total of $10 billion in lost revenue and puts the food security of millions of people at risk. Commentators say the situation has not improved in the two years since.

Thomas Turay, president of the Sierra Leone Fishermen’s Union, says his members’ average catches have fallen by about 40% in recent years. And he has no doubt who is to blame.

“Illegal fishing is too much,” he says. “The sea belongs to us, but foreign trawlers come at night and violate the seven-mile exclusion zone, they come directly to the coast.”

As we talk in the port of Tombo, near Freetown, he points out some large trawlers on the horizon. The boats anchor outside the exclusion zone, but will arrive almost every night.

He then introduces me to a group of fishermen, many of whom have a story to tell.

Abou Waisissé, 70, describes an attack in which he says the nets of several small local fishing boats were cut. Mohamedi Kamara, 55, tells me that a large international fishing vessel damaged his vessel in a collision.