Editorial: Promises of Blue Horizons

Today, the fisheries and maritime economy sector is undergoing a series of in-depth reforms which translate the implementation on the ground of the commitments and program of the President of the Republic in terms of promoting productive sectors, and more particularly that of fisheries because of its impact in terms of jobs and food security.

It is within the framework of this program, and in less time than expected, that the fishing ports and wharves have been serviced, rehabilitated, or operationalized and that new docking facilities have been constructed.

Likewise, the shipyards were extended, and a new line of credit was set up as part of the enhancement of inland fisheries at a time when particularly incentive measures were taken to promote production, processing, and marketing of fishery products.

At the same time, many projects have been launched such as the construction of a campus in Nouadhibou to house the headquarters of institutions in charge of maritime control and surveillance, oceanographic and fishing research, and health inspection, in addition to the construction of more fish distribution platforms and the servicing of coastal development poles.

The completion of the infrastructural architecture of the sector, the more precise knowledge of its determinants, the more harmonious interaction of its sectors, the modernization of tools for the protection and safeguard of the fisheries heritage, the modernization and integration of fisheries and production systems, as well as the appropriation of responsible fishing concepts and behaviors form, today, the solid base of a more vigorous economic recovery of the sector, following a sustainable, inclusive, innovative, and environmentally friendly approach.

It is precisely on the basis of this approach that the environmental performance of public policies has been improved to promote economic growth that minimizes pressures on ecosystems and natural resources. The strengthening of environmental governance and the legislative and normative framework are the result of the new vision which imposes on all fishing activities the imperative of sustainability which constitutes a priority for the public authorities.

Priority is also given to the emergence of processing industries able to ensure better development of economic potential and create local added value with the impetus of the management system based on public-private partnership.

However, the dynamics of protection, exploitation, and enhancement of fishery products, currently undergoing radical change, must take into account the management models and the exploitation systems imposed by the increasingly accentuated degradation of maritime resources due to climatic and economic factors and continually adjust the fishing effort according to national scientific expertise which is a world reference recognized and sought around the world.

With an asserted political will to revive the sector, transparent governance, a completed institutional framework, modernized infrastructures, effective control and surveillance structures, functional reference scientific instruments, an unanimously recognized quality label, the sector has today all the assets to keep its promises: promises of promising blue horizons, bearers of broad employment prospects, creation of more added value and sources of food security.