00:01Thousands of small boats are preparing for a new fishing season at the artisanal harbour of Noadibu,
00:07a city at the northern tip of Mauritania, near some of the world's richest fishing grounds.
00:12Life on these boats is hard and often risky,
00:15but it's how these fishermen, both local and from neighbouring countries, make a living.
00:21Once regular fishing reopens, these thousands of pirogues will set out from the Mauritanian coast.
00:27These fishers will be spending days at sea, risking their lives to feed their families and communities.
00:33Here in northwest Africa, fish is essential. It provides food and jobs to countless people.
00:40But this natural treasure is under threat. What must be done to protect it? And how could Europe play a part?
00:50Some of the most important fish here are so-called small pelagics, like sardanella.
00:55That's relatively affordable animal protein on which coastal communities depend.
01:05Fishermen say that in the past, these fish were much easier to find.
01:09Now they have to go much further out to the sea to catch enough.
01:14They are scared because the sea is not going to be heard.
01:17The sea is not going to be heard.
01:18It's not going to be heard.
01:19It's going to be heard, it's going to be heard.
01:20It's going to be heard.
01:22There are a lot of things that are going to get from the sea.
01:24Now they have to get a lot of fish.
01:25The sea is a lot of fish, the waves are a lot of fish,
01:28the weather is a lot of fish.
01:29The weather is warm, all the fish will get out of the sea.
01:31They consume a lot of carbon, and they will destroy the sea.
01:34Scientists from IMROP, the Mauritanian Institute of Oceanographic Research and Fisheries,
01:40collect daily catch statistics. Studies show that some of the small pelagic species are
01:45massively overfished. Without action, they could collapse completely. Mohamed Fadal leads
01:50Mauritania's National Artisanal Fishery Federation.
01:54Climate change is one challenge, but fishermen and environmental groups point to another.
02:13Industrial ships catching vast amounts of fish for fish meal factories that supply foreign
02:18aquaculture. The industry boomed a few years ago, with many new factories driving up demand.
02:24Some factories have since closed, while others are working to improve. Mauritania Pelagic,
02:53operating here for 25 years, says it's committed to sustainability and aims to set an example.
03:01It focuses on fish for human consumption, using only discards for fish meal and oil. The food-grade
03:07fish are frozen, supporting food security. But the factory director says not all competitors
03:13follow these standards. Shortages of fish halts production. When we visit, the factory is quiet.
03:21No catches have arrived. No catches have arrived for days.
03:28しょうちに、きょうの鎖のが私た強酬をカス Sk≪、空気が多く上昇。
03:34nhiutterは水のメンヘスに時間を守る高いものです substance
03:36水�AIをどんなな ministreの冷蔽機保養卒権の低渋が無事実に 非常に孽嚴が疑しているものです。
03:41and the fish is illicit.
03:45To keep the ocean healthy, the region needs coherent rules
03:49on which fish can be caught, when and where,
03:52what should be frozen, and what can be turned into fish meal.
03:56This is known as the management's plan.
03:59As IMROPF researcher Mohamed Ahmed Jaeed explains,
04:03no country can solve this regional problem alone.
04:09The Mauritania has implemented, with the European Union,
04:13a plan of management of pet pelagic.
04:15Currently, in the sub-region,
04:17there are attempts to do the same thing as the Mauritania.
04:21The management measures, such as fishing zones,
04:24the periods of delays, the tools used,
04:27all these measures must be harmonised.
04:30The management plan is based on scientific advice
04:33from an international team of experts.
04:35It's part of a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement
04:38between Mauritania and the European Union,
04:40reached after intense negotiations in 2021.
04:43Sidi Ali Sidi Boubacar led the Mauritanian delegation
04:46during those talks.
04:48The team will go to Nice.
04:49We negotiated and took into consideration all the recommendations.
04:53It consisted of preparing a plan of management for the pet pelagic.
04:57What was done.
04:58I think that it also gave its fruit.
05:01There is a return of European ships,
05:03a return of other ships.
05:05There is a disponibility of these pet pelagic in Mauritania.
05:09Joaquin Tassovier-Longa, head of the EU mission in Mauritania,
05:13visited the new IMRAP Research Institute headquarters
05:16in the country's capital, Nouakchot,
05:18a modern facility the EU helped build.
05:21The agreement is mutually beneficial.
05:23The EU supports Mauritania's fishing industry,
05:25and in return, European ships can fish in Mauritanian waters,
05:29but only for surplus stocks.
05:34The fishing agreement already presents a very important annual payment
05:38of 57 million euros per year,
05:42which is paid on the account of the Mauritanian treasure.
05:44It is the payment that allows European ships to fish in Mauritania.
05:49It is also a very important support sectorial
05:53to strengthen the capacity of Mauritanian institutions
05:56to manage the resources of fishing in a sustainable way.
05:59There is also a technical assistance and training
06:03that is also provided in the cadre of this agreement.
06:09The EU funding helps upgrade Mauritania's infrastructure
06:12from ports and coast guard vessels
06:14to research labs, nature parks and fish markets.
06:19One of the largest is the Nouakchot fish market,
06:22which spans 200 hectares in the country's capital.
06:26Small-scale fishers sell fresh fish, crustaceans and mollusks here.
06:31It's a vital food source for families in the capital
06:33and elsewhere along the coast.
06:35But the market lacks proper infrastructure.
06:38With no jetties for boats,
06:40fish is difficult to unload, making it more expensive.
06:44Sellers and buyers also need better facilities,
06:47as the market director points out.
06:49This new first aid station was built with European money.
07:03It will help solve some problems by giving urgent medical care when needed.
07:07Fishing accounts for more than a third of Mauritania's exports
07:10and a quarter of government revenue.
07:12The industry supports up to 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.
07:16It's a pillar of the economy.
07:18But the partnership with Europe has a clear goal.
07:21While the country makes money from fishing exports,
07:24local people should still have enough affordable fish to eat.
07:28The aim is to keep fishing sustainable for everyone.
07:33We also need to change our mentality.
07:35We fish for the needs, for the consumption.
07:38So we need to think about the future.
07:43Helping fish populations recover
07:45and ensuring sustainable fishing.
07:47These are the best ways to keep the ocean full of life
07:51for generations to come.
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