Several fishermen and restaurant owners in Dakar, Senegal, are worried by a seawater desalination plant under construction. They fear for the environmental impact that could lead to a shortage of fish “because of the waste from the plant”.
Senegalese President Macky Sall participated Tuesday in the groundbreaking ceremony of a seawater desalination plant. However, many beach aficionados did not welcome the news. Since 2016, they gathered in a collective fighting the project. They believe it will have a negative impact on the coastline.
Authorities argue the desalination plant will put an end to the water shortages that plague the lives of inhabitants of Senegal’s semi-arid capital. However, the pumping station is set to be installed on the beach.
Business owners are not the only ones worried by the desalination plant. If the plant should have a capacity of 100,000 m3/day, fishermen fear because of the waste from the plant, they may suffer a shortage of fish.