When David meets Goliath: EU-Mauritanian Fisheries Relations

Mauritania has been described as one of the least developed and most highly indebted countries in the world. More than 50% of the population live below the poverty line. Annual population growth is estimated at 3%, while urban migration has resulted in over half of the 2.5 million population now living in towns. Mauritania’s foreign debt is 2.5 times its GDP and 4 times its annual export earnings, with debt servicing consuming 20% of total export earnings. Fortunately for Mauritania, in a context where less than 0.2% of the land area is suitable for arable production, the abundance of fisheries resources in its EEZ has in recent years provided a significant source of both government revenue (up to 30%) and export earnings (up to 50%).

Fishy Business - ACP-EU Fisheries Relations: Who benefits at what cost?