Risk Assessment of Industrial Fishing Interaction with Subsea Structures in Mauritania and Senegal

BP along with joint venture partner Kosmos Energy, were in the design phase for a gas development along the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal.

MEP were asked to provide a detailed assessment of the type and quantity of industrial trawling occurring in the area, with a specific focus on bottom trawling, gear and trawl door types and operational water depths.

The aim of the assessment is to determine the risk of interaction of industrial fishing vessels with un-trenched pipelines in the proposed development site. The damage from industrial bottom trawling was specifically considered.

Analyses included GIS mapping of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data and a probability risk assessment of impact.