EU fishing sector urges Mauritania renewal

Europêche and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) are urging the European Commission to ensure the timely renewal of the EU-Mauritania Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, which expires on 14 November 2026.

The EU and Mauritania have maintained a fisheries partnership since 1987. The current protocol provides fishing access to vessels from ten EU member states, covering shrimp, demersal species, tuna and small pelagic fish, with fishing opportunities of up to 280,050 tonnes annually.

“The deadline is fast approaching and the European fleet needs certainty,” said Javier Garat, president of Europêche. “A disruption to fishing activities from 14 November would have serious consequences for vessels, crews and businesses.”

The partnership also represents a significant EU financial contribution, currently totalling €60.8 million. Funding supports the sustainable development of Mauritania’s fisheries sector, fisheries management, monitoring and control, scientific cooperation and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

With the protocol’s expiry approaching, the partners warn that failure to secure a renewed framework could force EU vessels operating in Mauritanian waters to stop fishing from 14 November. They say this could disrupt fishing companies, crews and businesses throughout the wider supply chain.

ETF Fisheries Section Chair Juan Manuel Trujillo highlighted the potential social consequences. “We cannot overlook the social impact of failing to renew this agreement,” he said. “A breakdown in negotiations will immediately ground the European fleet in the region, creating a void that third-country fleets, operating under far lower environmental and labour standards, will quickly fill.”

Europêche and ETF say renewal is needed to provide legal and operational certainty while maintaining cooperation on responsible fisheries management.

If negotiations cannot be concluded before the expiry date, the partners are calling for an immediate one-year extension of the existing protocol to maintain continuity and avoid disruption.

They also want temporary cessation aid to be activated automatically for fishing companies and affected workers if EU vessels are ultimately required to stop operating.

Garat said the priority was to avoid a gap between protocols and allow European vessels to continue fishing after 14 November.