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Mauritania

Mauritanian Government and Key Stakeholders Recognize

Importance of the Octopus Fishery Improvement Project

On September 20 and 21, a workshop
took place in Nouadhibou, Mauritania,
bringing together representatives
and key players in octopus fishing,
management, research, and trading.
The goal was to launch an octopus
fishery improvement project (FIP) aimed
at ensuring the long-term sustainability
of the fishery.
During the workshop, experts
presented the results of an MSC (Marine
Stewardship Council) pre-assessment
and proposed an action plan, which
was discussed and approved by
the participants and future project
stakeholders.
The governance structure of the
octopus FIP, its institutional anchoring, SMCP’s support represents the a majority of national producers. The
and its financing mechanism were continuation of Mauritania’s national main objective to date is the launch and
also discussed and validated with efforts and commitment, which have implementation of a FIP, ensuring its
stakeholders. been ongoing since 2017, but were coordination and financing, and taking
Société Mauritanienne de interrupted due to the COVID-19 measures to demonstrate the country’s
Commercialisation de Poisson pandemic. credibility as a responsible producer.
demonstrated its commitment to the During the opening and closing
FIP through financial and technical of the workshop, Mr. Dedde Barham, In 2022, AMPEP was established and
assistance during the workshop, and representing the Ministry of Fisheries adopted its first set of bylaws, making
its institutional involvement in the and Maritime Economy (MPEM), and it open to all professionals involved in
Mauritanian Association of Octopus Mr. Mohamed El Mamy Zerough from the octopus sector in Mauritania. The
Producers and Exporters (AMPEP), which SMCP, confirmed the commitment of operational goal pursued to date is to
is fully dedicated to the sustainability of the authorities to the implementation initiate and implement a FIP, ensure its
the fishery. of the project and recognized the implementation, and take actions that
From October 2–4, SMCP will governance structures. They also demonstrate the country’s credibility as
participate for the first time in the encouraged stakeholders to continue a responsible producer.
Conxemar exhibition in Vigo, Spain. their collaborative efforts. The pre-assessment report identifies
SMCP will present the FIP project and History and Progress gaps in performance indicators,
invite national and international octopus In 2021, Mauritania and international especially in terms of available
buyers to join and support the initiative buyers participating in the Global information to address MSC Principle
to ensure its implementation and Octopus Supply Chain Roundtable
continuity. (Octopus SR), led by SFP (Sustainable 2, which evaluates the fishery’s impact
“Given the importance of Mauritanian Fisheries Partnership), joined a group on the environment and habitats.
octopus for our markets and its of interested producers with the goal Additionally, the report highlights some
recognized quality by us and our of deploying resources and initiating weaknesses in stock assessment and
customers, we wish to demonstrate activities aimed at ensuring responsible management. Nevertheless, the report
our strong interest in ensuring that exploitation of the octopus resource. demonstrates that Mauritania conducts
Mauritanian octopus comes from a In 2022, the Mauritanian Association regular monitoring of the resource
responsibly managed fishery,” said Mari of Octopus Producers and Exporters and has a national strategy aimed at
Carmen Fernandez of Angulas Aguinaga, (AMPEP) was formed, and its first statutes protecting and conserving fishery
an SR participant company. were drafted, with the aim of including resources.
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