Data compendium on safety at sea for seven West African countries: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Cape Verde, 1991-1994

Abstract

Safety at sea, as the artisanal fisheries sector in general, has been neglected during decades. and policies were favouring industrial fisheries. Nevertheless, Goverments are now adopting a more realistic approach more in tune toward development, and more in agreement with the fishermen's needs. As a result, Senegal, Guinea and Cape Verde already have specific administrations dealing with safety at sea matters. With the exception of Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea, very few activities were real ized for the safety at sea in other countries. Therefore, the Department of Fisheries of seven countries of the sub-region; Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Cape Verde ; in cooperation with IDAF, engaged in a methodic data collection on safety at sea and related accidents occured during fishing and transport activities from 1991 to 1994.Each year, artisanal fishermen paid a heavy price for these accidents at sea. disasters repited themselves, startin g from a simple capsizing without any serious consequences up to a collision between small and big boats and final wrecking. Causes of accidents are plenty the wind and the wavesappears to be the most importants. This result with a lot of death and injured. One should not forget the value of the material lost which is for this survey estimated at 1,261. 449 US Dollars. The results published in the present analysis demonstrate not only the high importance of the accidents dues properly to sea wor king conditions, their frequency, but also the importance of human and material losses. The data analysed shows that 518 accidents were declared to the investigators during the field work. During those accidents, 340 peoples died and 285 were injured. This survey is not exhaustive, because it was observed that people remain better the death than injuries on board. It can be believed also that with the time passing, the declaration obtained from those accidents sometime occured more than four years ago, lack of precision. Among the main factors having contributed to the accidents of the artisanal sector in the sub-region, we obtained by decreasing order: The wind with 153 cases. The waves with 185 cases. The Innatention, 66 cases. Engine failure, 35 cases. Overload of the boats, 33 cases. Disorientation, 26 cases. Fog, 23 cases. Panic, 23 cases. Various factors contributed to the accidents, however, it was observed that about 32 %of the disasters are due to negligence of the u sers. Among the boats surveyed, thoses with length comprised inbetween 12 and 22 meters are the most concerned, with 274 units being the victim of an accident. Data analysis revealed that for the totality of the boats included in the survey, more than 72 % are motorised units, using occasionally paddles and/or sail as auxiliary means of propulsion. Nevertheless, generally speaking, where the engine is the main means of propulsion, it is common to see small canoes going fishing without emergenc y sail and without any paddle on board. A long term work must be considered throughout sensitization field work for safety at sea.A programme for training of trainers in safety at sea matters within the Direction of Fisheries of the countries concerned appears as a priority.