Connecting with the global Waterkeeper network

HomeConnecting with the global Waterkeeper network

Connecting with the global Waterkeeper network

by Topher Hamblett, director of advocacy

 

Topher-Hamblett-with-Mbacké-Seck-in-Senegal
Director of Advocacy, Topher Hamblett, visits Mbacké Seck, the Hann Baykeeper in Senegal.

During a recent visit to Senegal, I met Mbacké Seck, the Hann Baykeeper in the sprawling coastal fishing community of Hann, just south of the capital, Dakar. Like Save The Bay and our Baykeeper, Coastkeeper and Riverkeeper programs, The Hann Baykeeper is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a group of 350 organizations committed to clean, fishable, swimmable waters.

inspecting-pump-station-of-water-pollution-control-system
Inspecting one of the pump stations of a water pollution control system being built thanks to the Hann Baykeeper’s advocacy.

Mbacké (pronounced “Em-bach-eh”) is an inspiring advocate for clean water. During a tour of the Hann Bay waterfront, he shared his experiences battling sewage pollution, the rampant dumping of trash and his efforts to organize coastal cleanups, and the siting of coal-fired power plants. We visited various construction sites of a new wastewater collection system that will divert raw sewage from the beach that houses a local fishing fleet, and pipe it to a wastewater treatment plant twelve miles away.

Senegal-on-map
Hann lies just south of Senegal’s capital, Dakar.

Mbacké and I shared the stories of our respective organizations, and the similarities are striking. Having lived and worked in the West Africa region, I can say that the challenges faced by their environmental advocates are immense and complicated.

As we parted ways, Mbacké said, “We share the Atlantic Ocean. You have the West. We have the East. We’re stronger together.”

 

So here’s to Mbacké Seck, the Hann Baykeeper and friend of Save The Bay!