Afric Azote is the oldest fishmeal factory in Senegal, having opened its doors in the late 1960s. In its early years, Afric Azote made fishmeal from fins, bones, heads and other fish waste from the harbor and from markets and beaches in and around Dakar, according to an investigation by Desmog and Follow The Money.1
In 2017, the Association for the Promotion and Empowerment of Maritime Artisanal Fishing Actors in Senegal discussed the impacts of several fishmeal factories, including Afric Azote. They described various issues with fishmeal production in the region, such as overexploitation of sardinella, food insecurity, impact on employment, and environmental pollution. For the Dakar region specifically, where Afric Azote is located, the association wrote that as “fishing effort increases and pelagic resources are becoming scarce, local players are losing their jobs and are struggling to supply fresh fish.” It added that residents “living near the factories complain about the odors and fumes released which are sources of respiratory illnesses and of various ailments.”2
In correspondence with The Outlaw Ocean Project, Faye El Hadj Moussa, Head of Digital Marketing and Communications at Afric Azote, said these were general issues and not specifically raised about the company: “These statements fall within a general, sector-wide context and do not constitute an audit, an administrative decision, or a specific assessment of Afric Azote.”3 He added that the company “takes community concerns seriously” and took measures over the years to reduce nuisances.
The company spokesperson also said that Afric Azote does not own or operate a fishing fleet, and the vessels operating out of Senegal’s industrial fishing port are not dedicated to supplying any fishmeal factory in Senegal.4
In 2022, the FAO warned that growing demand for fishmeal was causing many fishmeal factories to shift from using offcuts to whole fish that otherwise would be consumed by local communities.5 The operator of this factory denied that it uses whole fish, according to a 2025 investigation by Desmog. “That story is one hundred percent untrue,” the plant manager said. But the Desmog investigation found that internal company information offered a different view. The documents showed that in December 2024, Afric Azote purchased more than 470 metric tons of whole fish on the beaches around Dakar, On some days, the company even purchased twice as much fish as it did offal. All of the fish was unfit for human consumption, according to the factory manager. But this claim was countered by local fishers, according to the investigation.
Afric Azote’s supply chain “is based on authorized suppliers and includes the valorization of by-products as well as fish unfit for human consumption,” said Faye El Hadj Moussa, Head of Digital Marketing and Communications at Afric Azote, in correspondence with The Outlaw Ocean Project. “The reference to ‘whole fish’ may describe material that is physically whole at the time of purchase but not intended for human consumption, and should not be construed as a diversion of food-grade fish from human markets,” he said.6
The spokesperson also said that the company has evolved its operations since its founding in 1967 as “a business model based on the continuous use of fish intended for human consumption would neither have been economically nor socially sustainable over such a long period.”
The spokesperson added that Afric Azote operates “in strict compliance with the Senegalese regulatory framework” and strengthened its control and traceability systems partly through obtaining a GMP+ FSA certification.7