Greenpeace in Mauritania: fishmeal industry under scrutiny

Monday 25 August 2025 - 13:55

By: Sahili Aya

Greenpeace in Mauritania: fishmeal industry under scrutiny

Nouakchott, August 25, 2025 — Environmental organization Greenpeace has renewed its campaign against the fishmeal and fish oil industry in Mauritania, warning that this activity deprives millions of people in West Africa of essential food resources.

During a mission carried out between August 18 and 22, Greenpeace representatives met with government officials, members of parliament, and local authorities in Nouadhibou. According to Mamadou Kali Bâ, the NGO’s oceans campaign coordinator, the discussions focused on the negative impacts of the fishmeal industry on food security, the economy, biodiversity, and public health.

Greenpeace recalls that producing 1 kilogram of fishmeal requires between 6 and 7 kilograms of fresh fish, mainly small pelagic species that are also vital for local consumption. In Mauritania, over 60% of these catches are transformed into fishmeal, most of which is exported to Europe and Asia to feed livestock and aquaculture farms.

The organization urged West African governments to adopt stricter regulations and greater transparency in supply chains, while calling on European and Asian companies to stop using fishmeal as animal feed.

In Mauritania alone, the country produces more than 110,000 tons of fishmeal each year—18% exported to the European Union—and nearly 35,000 tons of fish oil, of which more than 70% is destined for the EU market.

Local NGOs such as Zakia for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection welcomed the decline in the number of fishmeal factories, from around fifty a few years ago to just about ten today. Mansour Bahaida, the president of Zakia, expressed optimism about a gradual reduction in this industry, which has long been linked to overexploitation of marine resources.

Greenpeace continues to call for a moratorium on new fishmeal and fish oil plants, harmonized legislation across West Africa, and stronger regional cooperation to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU).