IMPACTS
Mauritania’s coastal waters are among the most productive in the world, thanks to the upwelling system of the Canary Current (CECAF Report 2024), which supports significant stocks of small pelagic species such as Sardina pilchardus, Sardinella maderensis, and Sardinella aurita. These species account for the majority of national landings and are essential for regional food security and the national economy.
In this context, the FIP’s role is to contribute to the preservation of fishery resources and to limit potential negative social impacts of the activity by bringing together institutional actors (Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime Infrastructure, and Ports – MPIMP), local authorities (Coast Guard, ONISPA), scientists (IMROP), and representatives from the private sector around a single project.
In July 2024, a workshop was held in Nouakchott, initiated by the Global Roundtable for Marine Ingredients and supported by the FIP, to deepen understanding of the socio-economic dynamics surrounding small pelagics and identify ways to strengthen their contribution to food security.
WORKSHOP REPORT:
PRESERVATION OF FISHERY RESOURCES
As small pelagic stocks are shared, scientific assessments of their status are conducted annually at the regional level by a collaborative group of scientists from the countries concerned, under the auspices of COPACE, managed by the FAO. This is the Northern Small Pelagics Working Group.
The latest COPACE reports indicate that five stocks are overexploited and require actions to rebuild populations of Sardina pilchardus, Sardinella aurita, Sardinella maderensis, Trachurus trachurus, and Ethmalosa fimbriata. Several factors contribute to this situation, including unfavorable climatic conditions for sardine and sardinella stocks, which are particularly sensitive to warming, and excessive fishing effort (COPACE 2024).
Table: Summary of Stock Assessment – COPACE 2024
The FIP supports IMROP in strengthening the collection of data essential for the effective management of the small pelagics fishery. Key actions carried out by the FIP include:
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Biological Sampling: Over 103,000 tonnes sampled to facilitate stock assessment and traceability (8.5 samples per 1,000 tonnes, eight times higher than the FAO minimum recommendation);
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Funding Equipment: Provision of equipment to improve the accuracy of sampling;
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Scientific Observers: Deployment of scientific observers on coastal vessels to monitor by-catch;
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Ecosystem Assessment Models: Development of ecosystem assessment models to better integrate trophic chains into fishery management.
The various measures from the Small Pelagics Management Plan implemented by the authorities (zoning, quotas, seasonal closures, etc.) also serve to protect the resource. See the “Regulatory Framework” section.
Finally, the increasing use of fish waste (by-catch or fish unfit for human consumption) in fishmeal production is a positive development, as it reduces pressure on the resource by the industry and ensures that only materials not competing with local community needs are used.
Figure 3.39 Specific composition of landings processed into fishmeal and oil in the northern zone, Period 2006–2017 (A) and 2018–2023 (B). Source: IMROP.
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE SECTOR
Pelagic fishing plays a central role in Mauritania’s socio-economic development:
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The fishing and processing sector supports over 20,000 jobs onshore and at sea: approximately 10,000 jobs in artisanal and coastal fleets, and around 16,000 jobs in freezing plants and fishmeal and fish oil factories (IMROP, 2023 Bulletin of Statistics and Analyses of Maritime Fisheries Activity).
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Revenue Contribution: Overall, fisheries have contributed more than 25% of Mauritania’s export revenues and over 10% of public revenues in recent years (5th FITI Report Mauritania, 2024).
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Infrastructure Development: The fishing industry has stimulated investments in port infrastructure, employment zones, and energy networks, particularly around Nouadhibou.
"The development of the fishmeal sector in Mauritania has responded to the growing demand to relocate small pelagic fishing activity, which averaged over one million tonnes in catch without passing through Mauritanian ports until 2013. With the growth of the industry, over 60% of catches are now landed on Mauritanian soil, generating significant socio-economic benefits and allowing for greater control." - Cheikh-Baye Braham (Ph.D), Fisheries Scientist and Head of the Statistics Department, IMROP
SOCIAL IMPACTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Led by the Global Roundtable on Marine Ingredients (a multi-stakeholder industry initiative), an initial human rights impact assessment of the fishmeal industry and the small pelagics fishery (including artisanal fishing) was conducted by the NGO Partner Africa in 2023.
Two complementary studies, funded by FIP partners, were subsequently carried out to further examine human rights issues in the industrial fleet (2024) and the artisanal fleet (2025). The FIP coordinated these studies, with local partners facilitating field surveys among fishers.
The results of these three studies are being progressively consolidated to transform the reports into an action plan (similar to how MarinTrust and MSC assessments are used to design the FIP work plan).
This action plan includes, among other measures:
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Surveys on working conditions onboard vessels and in processing plants;
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Awareness workshops on the importance of safety equipment onshore and at sea;
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A study on the availability, accessibility, and quality of fish for local communities;
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Implementation of a grievance mechanism.
Two other potential negative impacts of fishmeal and fish oil production are environmental pollution (smoke and wastewater discharge) and competition with local food security.
To mitigate pollution risks, a fishmeal factory in Mauritania must comply with a specifications framework to obtain an operating license. ONISPA ensures that wastewater treatment is in place (either on-site or via a central commercial treatment facility) and that ceramic filters are installed on chimneys to reduce air pollution.
Since 2018, Mauritania’s regulatory framework has been strengthened and now clearly prioritizes the development of the human consumption market. All fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) factories must have a freezing unit, and landings are inspected by ONISPA (the national sanitary authority) to ensure that only by-catch or fish unfit for human consumption are processed into fishmeal and fish oil.