00:06This is the new face of the Abilagoon in Asinye, Cote d'Ivoire, with its waters increasingly
00:11turning muddy and discolored.
00:14For local fishermen, the consequences are already being felt.
00:18The water changes at 1am, 4am, 5am it changes.
00:24You've seen that the water's turned red.
00:26It is even freezing cold. That is it.
00:30We are not making any money. It's really tough.
00:34For Eric, fewer fish means more than an empty net.
00:38It means no income, and he is not alone.
00:41The decline in fish stocks is also hitting the traders who depend on their catch.
00:45I have five fridges, so before, by midday, all these fridges would be full.
00:51But now, because of this situation, I can't even fill a single one.
00:55So it's really difficult.
00:58With fewer fish coming in, there is less to sell, so less money to take home.
01:04But Veronique says the problem goes beyond dwindling supplies.
01:08She says the condition of the water is also affecting the quality and shelf life of the fish.
01:14Veronique now relies on a small supermarket to help make ends meet.
01:18And the problem goes even deeper than that.
01:21Asenier is one of Côte d'Ivoire's best-known seaside destinations.
01:25Its beaches and lagoon attract visitors looking for boat trips, water spots, and other leisure activities.
01:32But local tourism operators say the polluted waters are now driving some visitors away, which in turn affects their earnings.
01:42When customers come to Athenia Mafia for activities such as the boat crossing, the lagoon tour, eating on the beach,
01:49and all that sort of thing, activities like jet skis, horse riding on the beach, and so on, it wears
01:56us out.
01:56Because when they arrive, as soon as they see the colour of the water, they don't want to cross.
02:02They don't want to do the activity.
02:04They're forced to turn back.
02:07And when that happens, it's a real strain on us guides.
02:12So what's the reason for the problem?
02:16We've noticed the change in the colour of the lagoon for a good ten years now.
02:20And another consequence we've observed is that people are swimming in the lagoon less often because when they do, they
02:27come out with an itchy rush.
02:29It's not just the children. It's everyone who comes out with an itchy rush.
02:33So we assume, in fact, we can say with certainty that this is one of the consequences of gold mining.
02:41Gold burning is an activity that's reported to be spreading across the country, leaving a trail of environmental damage in
02:48its wake.
02:49According to Cote d'Ivoire's Ministry of Water and Forests, 80% of the country's water bodies are already affected
02:57by pollution from it.
02:59Authorities have dismantled thousands of illegal mining sites across the country, but local leaders say enforcement alone will not be
03:07enough.
03:09They want the waterways and damaged land restored, and the local economy protected.
03:19So there's loads of democracy included, which acknowledges the country that they should look like.
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