ishbel matheson is one of the study's authors. west africa loses around 1.2 billion euros each year through illegal fishing. for developing countries like senegal, it's an economic disaster. >> we estimate that up to 300,000 jobs up and down the coast could be created if money was invested in the fishing and processing industry across western africa. it would create jobs, it would create wealth for families, it would create prosperity and dignity for those people, and it would ensure that they stay in their communities and don't have to travel overseas in order to find jobs. reporter: senegal's government, however, has so far only made half-hearted attempts to stop illegal fishing. it does patrol the waters, for example, but on a small, low-tech scale. it's a true david and goliath struggle. the foreign boats obviously don't want to be boarded and checked, so they simply sail off. >> we need more boats, better ones, and better monitoring equipment, and training, so that we're a match for the foreign ships. that we have the same sp