Mauritania’s fishmeal industry collapses as government implements stricter environmental controls

The bustling fishmeal industry that once dominated Mauritania’s coastal city of Nouadhibou has ground to a near halt following government regulatory crackdowns aimed at protecting the nation’s fish stocks. The Bountiya coastal strip, which housed 28 processing plants at its peak, now sits largely abandoned—a stark contrast to 2018 when truck traffic was so heavy that parking was impossible.

Mauritania’s fishmeal sector experienced explosive growth between 2017 and 2020, with production climbing from 111,866 metric tons to 128,789 metric tons. The industry converted raw fish into powder for animal feed through an energy-intensive process requiring 5 kilograms of fresh fish to produce just 1 kilogram of fishmeal. By 2021, more than half of all pelagic fish caught in Mauritanian waters were being diverted to fishmeal plants rather than feeding local populations.

The government’s recent restrictions on raw fish access have forced most plants to close, with surviving operations struggling to remain viable. Plant managers, speaking anonymously due to concerns about criticizing government policy, describe a complete market reversal. “Until 2017, if you were selling your factory, they would call you a fool,” one manager explained. “But now you cannot sell. It’s a fool who buys.”

The regulatory shift reflects growing concerns about the sustainability of industrial fishing practices and their impact on local food security in West Africa, where fish serves as a crucial protein source for coastal communities.