MID Flags Sustainability & Governance Gaps in Mauritania Fisheries Deal

EU vessels will be allowed to continue fishing in the Mauritian waters for tuna as EU-Mauritius fisheries protocol extended for six months Fisheries MEPs support athe EU-Mauritania fisheries partnership with Mauritania, welcoming more transparency and a curb on overfishing

MID challenges Mauritania fisheries deal, citing sustainability gaps, governance failures and risks to fishmeal, fish oil investments

Marine Ingredients Denmark Sector Sets Out Position

Marine Ingredients Denmark (MID) has submitted a consultation response on the EU–Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement, raising sustainability, governance and data concerns as negotiations loom on a new implementing protocol.

The submission was made on 2 December 2025 to Denmark’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries as part of the Section 5 Committee (Fisheries) consultation on the future direction of the agreement, which underpins EU access to Mauritanian waters.

Marine Ingredients Denmark represents Danish producers of fishmeal and fish oil, with Denmark the EU’s largest producer of both products and among the leading global suppliers. Production is based on small, short-lived pelagic species such as sprat, sandeel and blue whiting, alongside processing side streams and off-cuts from the wider fishing industry. Off-cuts now account for around 25 per cent of raw material use, which MID describes as improving circularity and reducing waste.

Export Value And Economic Weight

In 2024, Denmark exported fishmeal and fish oil worth around DKK 6 billion, equivalent to approximately €800 million or £690 million, to international markets. According to MID, fishmeal and fish oil represent 22 per cent of the total value of Danish fish product exports.

MID argues that marine ingredients form a central link in the blue value chain, converting marine raw materials into feed and food products, while supporting the Danish fishing sector and maintaining Denmark’s competitive position in aquaculture feed and technology.

Context Of The Mauritania Agreement

The EU and Mauritania have maintained a fisheries partnership since 1987. The current Fisheries Partnership Agreement entered into force on 16 November 2024, while the existing implementing protocol runs from 15 November 2021 until 14 November 2026.

The European Commission is now seeking a negotiating mandate for a new protocol to ensure continuity once the current arrangement expires. MID said the negotiations must be structured to deliver sustainable and responsible fishing, grounded in scientific advice, stock assessments and management plans adopted by regional fisheries management organisations.

Gaps In Pelagic Governance

A central concern raised by MID is the lack of a regional fisheries management organisation for small pelagic stocks in West Africa. The organisation noted that this governance gap complicates efforts to ensure long-term sustainability for the species that underpin the fishmeal and fish oil sector.

MID pointed to work by IFFO, the global trade organisation for fishmeal and fish oil, and the Global Roundtable on Marine Ingredients, which has proposed the creation of an observatory for small pelagic species in West Africa following a workshop held in Mauritania in July 2025. MID said the EU could support such a platform through its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, which provide financial and technical support alongside access for EU vessels.

Industry Initiatives And Social Concerns

The Danish industry is also involved in a Fishery Improvement Project for small pelagic species in Mauritania, aimed at improving data collection, management and sustainability. MID said the project has improved information exchange and has been recognised by the EU Delegation in Mauritania.

An independent assessment of human rights conditions in Mauritania and Senegal carried out in 2022–2023 resulted in an action plan intended to align local practices with international standards.

MID also highlighted recommendations to increase infrastructure enabling a greater share of small pelagic catches to be directed towards human consumption rather than industrial processing. The Mauritanian management plan for small pelagics, published in November 2022 as part of current SFPA obligations, has already led to tighter controls, factory closures and a shift from fishmeal towards frozen fish exports.

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