Fishermen facing pressures from migration control in Tunisia

Fishermen located in Tunisia are currently facing a host of hardships due to migration control, economic stress and negative environmental issues, according to The New Arab plus agencies on 26th May.

A victim of the pressures is fisherman Salah, aged 35 who has spoken about the current hardships. He is one of many who are frustrated with the ongoing checks conducted by the Maritime Guard. Salah stated “You work, you exhaust yourself, and then the Maritime Guard shows up to inspect your boat, when all you are trying to do is earn a living and live with dignity.”

These checks sprouted from the EU-Tunisia migration partnership, which was agreed in 2023. It has mitigated the rate of migration on the coast. However, this has caused unneeded strain and anxiety for many fishermen. Around 46,000 people are fishermen in Tunisia.

Even before this agreement, the troubles for fishermen and the locals were clear. Ahmed Souissi, the president of the Kraten Association for Sustainable Development, Culture and Leisure voiced his opinion on the matter. Souissi said “Before 2017, you did not see boats from the Kerkennah islands being used for migration attempts, because fishermen were still able to make a decent living.”

Another negative of this agreement is that it changes local lives drastically. An example of this is with the loss of traditional fishing methods. Fishing strategies like charifa have faced a steep decline. This has changed the ways of lives in a short time period.

Additionally, the economy has endured significant losses, as a consequence of the agreement. The restrictions of travel and visitors have negatively impacted the wealth of the country. Because of tight border controls, this has forced locals to feel isolated and secluded.

Overall, the 2023 agreement has had diverse reactions throughout the region. Although the inhabitants of Tunisia, like fishermen, have seen negative effects on their livelihoods.

The New Arab plus agencies, Maghrebi.org