The glowing sun slowly sets over the calm waters of Nouadhibou. In the silence of the evening, only the cries of seagulls and the steady lapping of waves disturb the atmosphere. On the dock, Mohamed, a fisherman for more than twenty years, gazes at the horizon with a worried look. “Before, we came back with full nets. Today, we can barely fill a cooler.” This bitter observation illustrates an increasingly alarming reality: Mauritania’s fishery resources are dwindling before our eyes.
A rich, but fragile coastline
Mauritania has one of the most fish-rich coastlines in West Africa. Stretching over more than 700 kilometres, its exclusive economic zone is home to exceptional marine biodiversity. Sardines, mackerel, octopus, shrimp… These species have long been a source of wealth for the country.
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Every year, Mauritanian waters attract an impressive fleet of vessels from Europe, China, Turkey and Russia. In 2022, more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish were caught in the region, according to figures from the Ministry of Fisheries and the Maritime Economy. A figure that appears promising on the surface, but which hides a darker reality.
“We are sawing off the branch on which our economy rests,” warns Fatimata Ould Salem, a marine biologist in Nouakchott. “The pressure on fish stocks is such that certain species, like the sardinella, are in critical decline.”
Controversial fishing agreements
Since the 1980s, Mauritania has signed several fishing agreements with foreign powers. These partnerships, often highly lucrative, allow foreign industrial fleets to exploit local resources in exchange for financial compensation.
The most emblematic is the one concluded with the European Union. In exchange for 61 million euros per year, European vessels are allowed to catch up to 287,000 tonnes of fish in Mauritanian waters. An agreement renewed in 2021 for a period of five years.
But on the ground, criticism is rife. “These agreements benefit foreigners more than Mauritanians,” laments Ahmed Mahmoud, representative of an artisanal fishing cooperative in Nouadhibou. “Our fishermen don’t have the means to compete with these giants of the seas.”
Local communities also denounce a lack of transparency in resource management, and point to the social and environmental consequences of this unbridled industrialisation.
Artisanal fishing, a collateral victim
In Mauritania, artisanal fishing directly employs more than 45,000 people, according to FAO data. It represents an essential pillar of the local economy, particularly in coastal regions.
Yet this activity today lives under the constant threat of overexploitation. “The nets come back emptier and emptier,” says Aïcha, a fish seller at the Nouakchott market. “Prices go up, customers complain, and we lose our livelihood.”
Competition with industrial vessels, which sometimes operate in areas theoretically reserved for artisanal fishing, amplifies the imbalance. Cases of conflicts at sea, sometimes violent, have been reported in recent years.
“A few months ago, a trawler passed a few metres from our pirogue,” recounts Idriss, a young 24-year-old fisherman. “It tore away our nets. There was nothing we could do.”
Ecosystems on the brink of collapse
Beyond the human issues, it is the entire ecological balance of the Mauritanian coast that is under threat. Industrial fishing techniques, such as bottom trawling, destroy marine habitats and disrupt reproduction cycles.
The Banc d’Arguin National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a striking example. A refuge for millions of migratory birds and a breeding ground for many marine species, it too is suffering the effects of fishing pressure.
“We are observing a worrying decline in biomass in certain protected areas,” states French researcher Jean-Luc Martin, who collaborates with the CNRS on the ground. “If nothing is done, certain species could disappear locally within the next ten years.”
Local initiatives to reverse the trend
Faced with this situation, voices are rising to advocate for sustainable and equitable fishing. In Nouadhibou, several NGOs are working with fishermen to promote environmentally responsible practices.
Biological rest zones have been established, prohibiting fishing during certain periods in order to allow fish stocks to regenerate. Training sessions are also offered to raise awareness among communities about conservation issues.
“We have reduced our trips out to sea, and we are starting to see results,” says Mohamed, a member of a committed cooperative. “It isn’t easy, but we want to preserve our future.”
The Mauritanian government also announced in 2023 the revision of several fishing agreements, as well as the strengthening of controls at sea. Drones and satellite surveillance systems have been deployed to detect violations.
What future for Mauritanian oceans?
Mauritania finds itself at a crossroads. Caught between economic pressures, international interests and the need to preserve its resources, the country must make crucial choices.
Can it become a model of sustainable management in West Africa? Or will it sink into an irreversible ecological and social crisis?
“The sea has given us everything,” Aïcha murmurs as she puts away her fish. “But if we carry on like this, it will soon have nothing left to offer.”
What if Mauritania’s true wealth lay not in what is extracted from its waters, but in the way we choose to protect them?
