Spain and Mauritania strengthen cooperation in fisheries to ensure responsible use of resources

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, and his Mauritanian counterpart, Fadhili Sidaty, greet each other.

Luis Planas, who accompanied the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, along with six other ministers on this trip, stressed that the aim of cooperation between the two countries is to ensure the responsible use of marine resources, respect for the principles of sustainability and the creation of economic benefits for both parties.

The minister stressed that Mauritania is a strategic partner for Spain in the fishing sector, within the framework of the collaboration agreement between the European Union (EU) and the African country, the most important of those signed with third countries, and of particular relevance for the Spanish trawler fleets, mainly for shellfish and hake.

During 2024, a total of 33 Spanish vessels were licensed to fish in Mauritanian waters, where they caught almost 15,737 tonnes, which is below the possibilities offered by the agreement. Negotiations for the renewal of the EU-Mauritania agreement, which expires in November 2026, are scheduled to begin in November. Mauritania is also the top destination for Spanish ship exports, 33 in the last 10 years, eight of them in 2024.

The agreement obliges Spanish vessels fishing in Mauritania to employ local seafarers. Training is therefore one of the areas in which the ministers focused on strengthening the partnership. Luis Planas has offered the fishing cooperation training vessel Intermares to provide nautical-fishing training to Mauritanian professionals in the ports of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott during 2026.

At the meeting, they also discussed the fact that the seasonal closures decreed by Mauritania in its fishing grounds should be communicated sufficiently in advance to the Spanish and European fleet fishing in them to enable planning and avoid possible economic damage.

Luis Planas acknowledged Mauritania's efforts to apply laws on the sustainability of its marine resources to all fleets operating in its waters and highlighted the fact that it actively participates in various regional fisheries organisations and has ratified various international conventions in this area. The minister pointed out that Mauritania is a key player in international fisheries governance due to the richness and high productivity of its maritime areas and its strategic position in the Atlantic.

Non official translation.