Fisheries: Mauritania
European fishing ships began leaving Mauritanian waters on Saturday 14 November 2026, according to Spanish press reports, as the European Union’s fishing protocol with Mauritania runs out at the end of that day (00:00 on Sunday 15 November). No renewal or extension had been announced at the time of writing.
The protocol is the five-year implementing annex to the EU–Mauritania fisheries partnership agreement: it lets ships from ten EU countries catch up to 280,050 tonnes of fish a year in exchange for €60.8 million a year (about US$67 million, at EUR/USD 1.10 on 13 November) from the EU. Shellfish vessels based in Huelva, a southern Spanish port, are among the most exposed, according to Spanish press accounts.
Key Facts
—Deadline. The protocol ends at the close of Saturday 14 November 2026; no renewal has been announced.
—Scope. Ships from ten EU states may catch up to 280,050 tonnes of fish a year.
—Cost. The EU pays €60.8 million (about US$67 million) a year, plus licence fees from shipowners.
—Fleet. Spanish press puts the fleet at about 100 licences across ten EU states; Spain holds more than 50.
—Next. No date has been announced for a new round of talks.
A five-year fishing protocol between Brussels and Nouakchott is lapsing before a replacement has been agreed, and EU ships are leaving.
What Happened on the Last Day
Spanish press reported ahead of the deadline that Spain’s agriculture and fisheries ministry still hoped for a last-minute deal and would keep pressing the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm in Brussels. It also reported that Mauritania’s new economic demands are a main obstacle to a deal.
Spanish press also reported that the Commission had tabled a new offer with higher compensation and licence fees, citing sector sources. We could not confirm that offer.
Spanish press reports about 100 licences across ten EU states, more than 50 of them Spanish. Anamar, an association of shellfish shipowners in Huelva, says 15 of its vessels work in Mauritanian waters.
Where the Talks Stand
The fourth round of talks took place in June, according to a Commission spokesperson speaking in October, and no agreement has followed. On 15 October, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Latvia asked the Commission to extend the protocol, according to Spain’s ministry.
Europêche, the EU fishing industry association, asked Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis for an extension of at least six months. Under current terms, shipowners pay €450 (about US$495) per tonne of crustaceans, mainly shrimp, according to the Commission.
Who Loses and What Changes
Mauritania loses the €60.8 million a year (about US$67 million, at EUR/USD 1.10 on 13 November) that the Commission lists for the protocol, part of which supports fisheries management and monitoring. EU ships lose access to waters where the protocol allowed shrimp, tuna and small fish such as sardines.
Ports in Andalusia, in southern Spain, feel it first, as shellfish vessels from Huelva leave. Spain’s fisheries secretary general says other fishing grounds exist, and Spanish press names Guinea-Bissau for shrimp boats, with a warning about overfishing there.
Spanish press reported that ships must leave at least temporarily even if a deal comes, because a new protocol could not apply before spring 2027, according to the sector. The Commission page confirms that the wider partnership agreement renews automatically, so only the protocol that sets quotas and payments lapses.
For wider context on Mauritania, see our reports on its offshore oil contracts and a mining stake purchase. Its parliament also held a confidence vote in the cabinet this week.
What to Watch Next
The first checkpoint is the end of the protocol on Saturday 14 November 2026, after which EU vessels have no access under it. The date of the next negotiating round is not confirmed.
A new protocol would need approval steps in Brussels and Mauritania, which the Spanish sector says could take months. The Commission has not published a timetable.
What Is Not Known
It is not confirmed whether Mauritania has replied to the EU’s reported new offer, or whether a temporary arrangement is being discussed. The numbers of vessels that have actually left, and of vessels affected, are also not confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the EU fishing protocol with Mauritania end?
At the close of Saturday 14 November 2026, according to the European Commission (the protocol runs from 15 November 2021 to 14 November 2026). No renewal had been announced at the time of writing.
How much does the EU pay Mauritania for fishing access?
The Commission lists €60.8 million (about US$67 million) a year under the protocol. Shipowners pay licence fees on top.
Which EU countries are affected?
Ships from ten EU states hold access: France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland and Italy. They may catch up to 280,050 tonnes a year.
Sources: European Commission, EU–Mauritania fisheries partnership page, read 14 November 2026; Spanish press reports of 14 November 2026 (unconfirmed figures marked in the text); EUR/USD close of 13 November 2026 from the RT market-data service.
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