Two new reports, one in the New York Times and another in the left-leaning In These Times, credit overfishing, largely by European industrial fishing fleets, with destroying West Africa fish stocks and contributing to rising illegal immigration from West Africa to E.U. countries. West African governments have sold interests in fish stock to European consortia, or just allowed illegal fishing because they were unwilling or unable to stop it. Chinese and U.S. fishing fleets were also involved. Fishing is a major source of income and employment in many West Africa states. It is a relatively low-skill (by technological standards) and labor-intensive form of employment that can also be highly lucrative. The decline of West African fish-stock has induced increasing numbers of West African fishermen to migrant illegally to Europe. As the Times article points out, however, many fail and in failing sell most of their fishing equipment, leaving them without a source of income on their return to West Africa. Now, it does not appear that many fishermen live in cities. I have also head fairly little about any kind of fishing-related urban industries (canneries, processing plants, etc.) However, this is sure to have effects on urban areas by introducing large numbers of migrants from failing fishing communities. Times Articlehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/world/africa/14fishing.html?_r=1&hp&oref=sloginIn These Times http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3273/risking_everything_for_europe/
