Senegal: Mauritania authorises the capture of 50,000 tonnes of fish in its maritime waters – In Senegal, fish provides at least 70% of animal protein intake, with per capita consumption reaching 29 kg per year. Mauritania is Senegal’s main supplier of fish products, accounting for over 67% of shipments.
In Mauritania, the Minister for Fisheries and the Maritime Economy, Moctar Lam, and his Senegalese counterpart, Papa Mbaye, signed a memorandum of understanding in Nouakchott on 25 July to implement a cooperation agreement in the fisheries and aquaculture sector signed between the two countries in 2001.
According to information relayed by the French-language information site Cridem, the agreement is for a renewable period of one year, and sets out the practical arrangements for implementing the cooperation, with a view to safeguarding the interests of both parties.
Under the new partnership, Mauritania is authorising a maximum of 500 Senegalese vessels to fish in its maritime waters for a total stock of 50,000 tonnes of pelagic fish, excluding yellow mullet and wahoo. It is also required to land 6% of these boats, or 30 vessels, in order to supply the Mauritanian market with fish.
In return, the Senegalese authorities have undertaken to supply sufficient fry to stock Mauritanian continental waters, in this case Lake Foum Gleita in the south of the country. Senegal will also provide 4 fish farming trainers to help build the technical capacity of the Mauritanian industry.
Senegal’s fishing industry contributes 3% to GDP and employs around 600,000 people. According to Usda data, the country has an annual deficit of around 150,000 tonnes of fish products. Mauritania derives around a third of its export revenue from fishing.
Senegal: Mauritania authorises the capture of 50,000 tonnes of fish in its maritime waters
