Fisheries Minister Affirms: Octopus Exploitation to Remain Exclusively Reserved for Mauritanians
The Minister of Fisheries and Maritime and Port Infrastructure, Mr. Mokhtar Ahmed Bousseif, presided over the launch of the International Scientific Symposium on Cephalopods this Tuesday at the headquarters of the Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic Research and Fisheries (IMROP) in Nouakchott. Held under the theme “Octopus and Pathways to Sustainable Management in the Face of Ecological, Economic, and Social Challenges,” the symposium focuses on the strategic future of the sector.
In his opening address, the Minister highlighted the paramount importance of the event, noting that octopus holds a central position in the national economy. It accounts for approximately 50 percent of the value of Mauritania’s fishery exports and provides tens of thousands of jobs, particularly within the traditional fishing sector.
The Minister emphasized that because of this significance, octopus has been granted special priority as the first fishery to be managed under a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, recently updated to ensure rational and sustainable management. He reaffirmed the State’s firm commitment to protecting national interests, underscoring a determination to ensure that the exploitation of this resource remains exclusively reserved for Mauritanians.
To enhance the competitiveness of national products, the Minister revealed that the sector is finalizing procedures for the ecological certification of the octopus fishery in accordance with the stringent international standards of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This process is being conducted under the Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) through a partnership between the Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic and Fisheries Research and the Mauritanian Fish Marketing Company.
Furthermore, the Minister praised the pivotal role of scientific research, affirming that the Institute conducts precise, real-time monitoring of stock levels and breeding grounds. This provides a documented database that serves as a reliable foundation for informed decision-making.
He concluded by reaffirming that these efforts reflect the high-level directives of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, implemented by the Government under the leadership of His Excellency the Prime Minister, Mr. Mokhtar Ould Djay, with the goal of consolidating sustainable management and maximizing the socio-economic returns of this strategic resource.