Chinese fishing in Mauritania threatens local fishersCEFR B1
4 Aug 2025
Adapted from Jean Sovon, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Francesca Fabian, Unsplash
In June 2010 China, through a Chinese company, signed a long cooperation agreement with Mauritania that included investment to build a fish processing plant in Nouadhibou and long fishing rights for Chinese firms. European Parliament estimates say a very large share of industrial ships in Mauritanian waters are Chinese, and observers report overfishing, fishing out of season and illegal activity in areas reserved for local fishermen.
Fifteen years after the agreement, local fishers say many species, including octopus and yellow mullet, have sharply declined. Fishing supplies many jobs and a large part of exports, and artisanal fishers using small pirogues and hand-woven nets now bring far smaller catches. Some fishers travel into deeper water, which raises fuel costs and still offers no guarantee of fish.
Local groups and international NGOs call on Mauritanian authorities to protect coastal resources and fishermen’s livelihoods, but it is not yet clear what policy changes will follow.
Difficult words
- cooperation — work together on a project or agreement
- investment — money put into a business or project
- overfishing — taking too many fish from the sea
- artisanal — made or done by small traditional producers
- pirogue — small wooden fishing boat used by localspirogues
- livelihood — the way people earn money to livelivelihoods
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What actions could Mauritanian authorities take to protect coastal resources and fishermen's livelihoods?
- How would reduced fish catches affect local communities you know?
- Do you think a fish processing plant built by a foreign company helps local fishers? Why or why not?
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