SAMAK

The waters off the 754-kilometer-long coast of Mauritania are among the richest fishing grounds in the world.  Mauritanian officials estimated the potential annual catch at 525,000 tons, a level close to that of Senegal, which had the largest fishing industry in West Africa.  Although these waters had long been commercially exploited by foreign fleets, Mauritanians historically had done little fishing. The majority Maure population consumed little fish, and only the small Imraguen ethnic group fished for subsistence.

The most valuable varieties of seafood in Mauritania’s waters were demersals, including cod, sole, octopus, squid, lobster, and shrimp.

Foreign boats may fish in Mauritanian waters, but they currently take their catch elsewhere. Every year, some 1.2 million tons of tuna, shrimp and other fish are caught in Mauritania’s waters. But just 5% of this is processed locally.