SENEGAL ENDANGERED DOLPHINS - WEB
Metadata
- SENEGAL ENDANGERED DOLPHINS - WEB
- April 11, 2023
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: SENEGAL ENDANGERED DOLPHINS (TV/R/WEB) HEADLINE: Senegal: Critically endangered dolphin threatened by illegal fishing nets TEASER: Monofilament fishing nets have been banned in Senegal since 1987, but the government has failed to enforce the law. PUBLISHED AT: 04/10/2023 BYLINE: Annika Hammerschlag CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Sine Saloum, Senegal VIDEOGRAPHER: Annika Hammerschlag VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, Bowman VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _x_ TV _x_ RADIO _x_ TRT: 2:36 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: on change in red)) ((INTRO)) [[An international team of scientists is rushing to save West Africa’s Atlantic humpback dolphin, which environmental groups say has been pushed to the brink of extinction. In 1987, Senegal banned nylon monofilament fishing nets that threaten dolphins and other marine life, but critics say the government has failed to enforce the law. Annika Hammerschlag reports from Senegal’s Sine Saloum Delta.]] ((VIDEO-VOA: DRONE SINE SALOUM-various, MANGROVES-various, WOMEN COLLECTING SNAILS-various)) ((NARRATOR)) Senegal’s Sine Saloum Delta stretches for hundreds of miles. The protected area is home to a dense web of mangroves that sustain a variety of animal and human life. ((VIDEO-VOA: DOLPHINS-various, DIAGNE-various, DIAGNE (CUTAWAY-NETS)) ((NARRATOR)) It’s also home to the Atlantic humpback dolphin. With only some 1,500 left in the world, conversationists say it’s one of the rarest dolphin species. Scientists here estimate about 300 live in Sine Saloum. But they face numerous threats, including pollution and – most problematically – entanglement in nylon monofilament fishing nets. ((Radio track: Lucy Keith-Diagne is the director of the African Aquatic Conservation Fund. She says the dolphins face numerous threats, including pollution, coastal development, and – most problematically – entanglement in nylon monofilament fishing nets.)) ((Lucy Keith-Diagne, African Aquatic Conservation Fund (in English, 16 secs)) “The monofilament nets are extremely problematic, because they are very strong. So when animals get caught, they can't get out. And so dolphins, and certainly manatees, have a behavior when they get caught in the net they spin and that entangles them even more.” ((VIDEO-VOA: FISHING NETS-various, SECK)) ((NARRATOR)) Monofilament nets are transparent underwater, making it easy to trap wildlife, such as sharks, turtles and seabirds. Often, the nets get lost at sea where they continue to entangle wildlife. Even though these nets were banned in 1987 – and the law has been updated twice since then – they can still be seen in nearly every fishing port and boat throughout the country. ((Radio track: Diana Seck is a research assistant with the African Aquatic Conservation Fund.)) ((Diana Seck, African Aquatic Conservation Fund, in English, 8 secs)) “We know it's illegal, but still they are using it and so it's not enforced.” ((VIDEO-VOA: NDIAYE-various, NDIAYE (CUTAWAY AT START))) ((NARRATOR)) Government agents such as Samba Ndiaye are charged with protecting Sine Saloum’s unique ecosystem. ((Radio track: Samba Ndiaye is the head officer of a Marine Protected Area within Sine Saloum. He says, “If we come across someone who uses types of gear that are prohibited in the marine protected area, then we make them aware.” ((Samba Ndiaye, Lead Agent at Gandoule Marine Protected Area (in French, 9 secs)) “If we come across someone who uses types of gear that are prohibited in the marine protected area, then we make them aware.” ((VIDEO-VOA: MPA OFFICERS ON BOAT-various, FISHING BOAT WITH NET-various, FAYE)) ((NARRATOR)) But on a recent outing while filming for this report, he and another officer did not confront several boats that were carrying the illegal nets. Senegal’s marine fisheries director insists the ban is being enforced, but acknowledges the nets are still in use. [[FOR RADIO: At Senegal’s ministry of fishing, marine fisheries director Diene Faye insisted the ban is being enforced but acknowledged the nets are still in use. He says “Even if there’s an impact on resources, I can’t say that it’s a considerable impact because we continue to have fish.” ((Diene Faye, Director of Ministry of Marine Fisheries (in French, 8 secs)) “Even if there’s an impact on resources, I can’t say that it’s a considerable impact because we continue to have fish.” ((VIDEO-VOA: FISHING BOAT, ABANDONED MONOFILAMENT NET, DEAD FISH IN COTTON NET)) ((NARRATOR)) But fishermen, conservationists and the United Nations have warned the region's fish stocks are rapidly depleting. ((VIDEO-VOA: UNDERWATER NET, NET REMOVAL-various, EL ALI PULLING UP NET-various, El ALI DIVING-various, EL ALI (start with cutaways of him diving))) ((NARRATOR)) Some citizens are removing fishing nets themselves. Rodwan El Ali heads an underwater net removal initiative for the Dakar-based nonprofit group Oceanium. [[FOR RADIO: “The fishermen use the nets and don’t even try to hide it. They don’t hide it because no one is stopping them. Anyone can fish whatever they want, when they want, how they want.” ((Rodwan El Ali, Oceanium Diving Director, in French, 10 secs)) “The fishermen use the nets and don’t even try to hide it. They don’t hide it because no one is stopping them. Anyone can fish whatever they want, when they want, how they want.” ((VIDEO-VOA: DOLPHINS, DEAD FISH TRAPPED IN NET, DEAD FISH BEING THROWN INTO WATER, DEAD FISH FLOATING)) ((NARRATOR)) So long as authorities fail to enforce the net ban, conservationists say Senegal’s dolphins and other marine life will continue to pay the price. ((Annika Hammerschag, for VOA News, Sine Saloum, Senegal))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Location (dateline) Sine Saloum, Senegal
- Byline Annika Hammerschlag
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English