Mauritania, Germany ink US$21M deal to strengthen marine resource management

MAURITANIA – Mauritania has signed a significant cooperation agreement with Germany, marking a milestone in its efforts to support sustainable fisheries and marine resource management. 

The US$21.36 million deal, announced by Mauritania’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, is expected to boost the nation’s fisheries sector and secure marine biodiversity along Mauritania’s extensive coastline.

The partnership aligns with Mauritania’s national fisheries strategy, focusing on enhancing local fish production and improving resource management. 

Germany’s Ambassador to Mauritania, Florian Rendell, highlighted the agreement as a step towards strengthening bilateral ties, emphasising the importance of supporting Mauritania’s marine economy and bolstering food security.

As part of the agreement, funds will be allocated toward acquiring a surveillance vessel to enhance the Mauritanian coast guard’s operational capacity. 

This vessel will not only aid in enforcing marine protections but also curb pollution along the coastline. 

According to Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Sid Ahmed Ould Bouh, this initiative will bolster sustainable development efforts and contribute to key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger and Life Below Water.

Mauritania’s fisheries sector, which contributes between 4% and 10% of the nation’s GDP and accounts for 35% to 50% of its exports, is crucial to the economy. 

The industry generates over 65,000 direct jobs and indirectly supports approximately 226,000 livelihoods, from sailors and fishmongers to processors and small-scale fishers. 

This agreement will benefit these workers, aiming to create a more robust and resilient fisheries sector.

This collaboration with Germany arrives as Mauritania also explores potential partnerships with China, another influential player in the global fisheries industry. 

China, which has longstanding ties with Mauritania as a key investor in fishmeal and fish oil production, recently expressed interest in renewing its fisheries cooperation with the West African country. 

During a recent visit to Nouakchott, China’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Ma Youxiang, proposed expanding the partnership to include wild fish capture, aquaculture, and measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

The two countries are expected to continue discussing enhancing the fisheries sector’s regulatory framework and bolstering local economies through aquaculture investments.

Mauritania’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), one of the richest fishing areas globally, spans 234,000 square kilometres and hosts diverse marine species. 

With annual fish catches estimated at 750,000 tons, the country has experienced rapid growth in fishmeal factories, from six facilities in 2010 to 23 today, primarily concentrated in the port city of Nouadhibou. 

However, the environmental impact of fishmeal production has raised concerns, making the focus on sustainable management practices, as highlighted in the German-Mauritanian agreement, even more critical.

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