Mauritania Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in mauritania, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Fisheries
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Fisheries remain one of Mauritania’s most strategic economic sectors, contributing significantly to export earnings and food security. The country possesses some of the richest fishing grounds in West Africa, particularly for octopus, tuna, and small pelagic species such as sardinella. Both industrial and artisanal fleets operate, with the port city of Nouadhibou serving as the main hub for processing and exports. Since 2021, Mauritania has operated under a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the European Union, which runs through 2026 and provides both financial contributions and technical support in exchange for access rights. The agreement also funds monitoring programs to ensure sustainable management of fish stocks.  

Nonetheless, concerns exist about overexploitation of certain species, especially small pelagics, with regional scientific bodies recommending stricter controls and better enforcement of quotas. At the same time, Mauritania is working to upgrade its processing infrastructure. New cold storage and processing plants are being established in Nouadhibou, while artisanal fishers continue to face challenges in accessing quality preservation and traceability systems. International buyers, especially in Europe, increasingly demand compliance with sustainability and food-safety standards, making certification and monitoring systems a prerequisite for market access.

Opportunities: Suppliers of cold chain equipment, ice plants, solar-powered refrigeration, vessel monitoring systems, and traceability software can find a ready market. Advisory services for HACCP certification, EU compliance, and by-catch reduction technologies are also in demand. For investors, joint ventures with Mauritanian processors present opportunities to upgrade facilities and to capture higher-value segments of the export market.
 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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