Fisheries professionals from Morocco and Mauritania on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to the sustainable and collaborative management of shared small pelagic fish stocks, during a two-day meeting in Dakhla aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The Moroccan Confederation of Industrial Pelagic Fishing Shipowners (COMAIP) and Mauritania’s National Fishing Federation (FNP) stressed the strategic role of these fisheries in food security, regional development, and marine ecosystem balance. The event builds on a Declaration of Intent signed in Agadir last February and supports the broader Fisheries Cooperation Agreement between the two countries.
Participants called for ecosystem-based management guided by scientific data and aligned with international standards, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
A joint committee was announced to coordinate scientific and technical exchange, propose harmonized policies, and enhance control and traceability systems.
FNP President Yahefdhou Elbechir and COMAIP President Mohamed Lamine Hormatallah both emphasized the need for coordinated action to preserve marine resources for future generations. Experts at the meeting described the initiative as a model for regional cooperation in sustainable fisheries governance.
(MAP: 05 June 2025)
