Mauritania, Germany sign US$21.36M fisheries cooperation deal 

MAURITANIA – Mauritania and Germany have entered a financial cooperation agreement valued at US$21.36 million to support Mauritania’s national fisheries strategy, as reported by the Mauritanian Information Agency (AMI) on November 7, 2024. 

The partnership aims to enhance Mauritania’s fish production, improve the sustainable management of its marine resources, and help protect marine species native to the region.

A portion of the funding will go towards purchasing a surveillance vessel to strengthen the Mauritanian coast guard’s capacity and enforce measures aimed at curbing pollution. 

This initiative is expected to boost the local fishing sector by providing additional resources for long-term conservation and management.

This agreement with Germany follows reports that China is interested in renewing its fisheries collaboration with Mauritania, a prominent center for fishmeal and fish oil production in West Africa. 

Beijing reportedly seeks to reinstate a dialogue on fisheries with the Mauritanian government. 

In a recent visit to Nouakchott, China’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Ma Youxiang, who oversees fisheries policies, expressed China’s interest in working with Mauritania to expand wild fish capture, aquaculture, and counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to a statement from China’s Agriculture Ministry.

During a meeting on May 27, Mauritanian Fisheries and Marine Economy Minister Mokhtar El Housseinou Lam welcomed potential Chinese investments in the country’s aquaculture and fish processing sectors. 

Lam indicated Mauritania’s willingness to implement policies that would ease the business environment for Chinese companies operating locally.

Mauritania’s annual fish catch is estimated at 750,000 tons, with the fishing industry contributing between 4% and 10% of the country’s gross domestic product and accounting for 35% to 50% of exports. 

The sector directly employs over 65,000 individuals and indirectly supports around 226,000. 

Since 2010, the number of fishmeal factories has risen from six to 23, primarily concentrated in the port city of Nouadhibou. 

Mauritania’s Exclusive Economic Zone, encompassing over 234,000 square kilometers of coastline and a continental shelf spanning 39,000 square kilometers, is one of the richest fishing areas globally. 

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