The Catch

Small pelagic fish have been sustaining the communities of the Gambia and Senegal for centuries. But recently, foreign fleets have taken interest. China in particular has been processing large quantities of fish from the region into a product called fishmeal, to support animal feed and fish farms abroad. And as the fishmeal industry has grown, local communities’ food security has suffered, pushing many to migrate abroad. On season five of The Catch, host Ruxandra Guidi reports from the Gambia and Senegal to hear firsthand how the fishmeal plants are impacting these communities and whether the industry, which underpins much of aquaculture, can be turned sustainable for all.