Mauritania small pelagics - purse seine

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Overview

The Mauritanian Small Pelagic FIP was initiated by a partnership between the Mauritanian fishery authority, the Mauritanian oceanographic and fisheries research institute (IMROP), local businesses, and international fishmeal and oil buyers. The fishery consists of artisanal and coastal purse seine and pelagic trawl vessels targeting mainly sardine (with some other small pelagics according to availability and current regulations) in Mauritanian waters. The FIP aims to support the government in working towards robust management and long-term sustainability of the resource, and also in other policy aims around improving value-added and support to food security. The MarinTrust Standard was initially chosen as the benchmark for the assessment and work plan but in 2021 a MSC pre-assessment was conducted and the workplan revised so that it now addresses both standards.

This FIP has recently progressed to MarinTrust version 3 and has created a new workplan and timetable to reflect this new benchmarking and actions.

As well as a focus on the sustainability of the fishery, an important element of the FIP is the following:

Refocus the fishery on the human consumption market

Following the national policy objective, an increasing proportion of small pelagic landings from the fishery enter human consumption supply chains, rather than FMFO supply chains. FMFO production comes increasingly from byproducts of processing for human. The FIP aims to also support the vessels and factories in improving their systems (quality, handling, sanitary processes, traceability, certifications) and making investments towards human consumption supply chains by:

  • Keeping FIP participants informed about issues around quality, sanitary processes, traceability, international markets etc
  • Working with MPEM to ensure that improvements to infrastructure in the port and factory areas of Nouadhibou continue to be prioritised
  • Supporting factories with certifications
FIP Description 

The Mauritanian Small Pelagic FIP was initiated by a partnership between the Mauritanian fishery authority, the Mauritanian oceanographic and fisheries research institute (IMROP), local businesses, and international fishmeal and oil buyers.

FIP Objective(s) 
  • Improve data collection on catch, effort and biomass for coastal fleet / small pelagics (Dec. 2023, revised to Dec. 2026)
  • Support government in putting in place Small Pelagics Management Plan (PAPP) (Dec. 2022). Met but new objective added to support implementation (Dec. 2028)
  • Ensure that the fishery is managed consistent with ecosystem requirements (Dec. 2023, revised to Dec. 2028)
  • Support government and scientists in collaborating with Morocco and Senegal for management of shared stocks (Dec. 2025, revised to Dec. 2028)
  • Support monitoring and enforcement on vessels and in factories (Dec. 2023, revised to Dec. 2027)
  • Evaluate bycatch, discards and habitat interactions (Dec. 2023, revised to Dec. 2026)
  • Improve stock assessments (Dec. 2023, revised to Dec. 2027)
  • Refocus fishery on human consumption market (ongoing long term process, but deadline set Dec. 2026 to complete workplan)
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
August 2017
December 2028
Update 
End date updated to match end date of revised (MSC) workplan End date updated again to match end date of revised MarinTrust v3 workplan (Sept 2024)
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, February 28, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
European Sardine
Scientific Name
Sardina pilchardus
Common Name 
Flat Sardinella
Scientific Name
Sardinella maderensis
Common Name 
Round Sardinella
Scientific Name
Sardinella aurita
Gear Type 
Purse Seine
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 34 (Atlantic, Eastern Central)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Mauritania
Geographic Scope 
Subject to zoning provisions
Country Flag of Vessel 
Mauritania
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
25,751 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
656,803 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
August 01, 2017
57% 18% 25%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
A Advanced Progress
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Feb 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2028

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
IMROP
Organization Type 
Other
Primary Contact 
Cheikh-baye Braham
Email 
baye.braham@gmail.com
Website Name 
IMROP
Organization Name 
Olvea
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Jo Gascoigne
Email 
jo.gascoigne@cantab.net
Website Name 
Olvea
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
9490