Navigating uncertain currents: Unpacking fishermen’s economic hardship and overfishing amidst undocumented migration in the region of Sfax (Tunisia)

This study investigates the transformation of Sfax’s traditional fishing communities in Tunisia, due to not only environmental degradation and declining fish stocks but also repressive migration policies that have compelled fishermen to adapt their livelihoods. Drawing on fourteen in-depth interviews conducted in August 2024 at key harbours including Sfax City, El Mahrès, El Amra, Ellouza and the Kerkennah Islands, the research reveals how long-established fishing practices have gradually given way to roles in undocumented migration networks. The analysis also highlights how overfishing, illegal fishing practices, industrial pollution and regulatory abuses have not only eroded sustainable fishing but also fostered an economic milieu in which fishermen inadvertently engaged in migrant ‘smuggling’. The findings underscore the complex interplay between state regulation, economic desperation and local agency, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated policies that simultaneously restore marine ecosystems, support artisanal livelihoods and address the multifaceted challenges of undocumented migration.