EU-Mauritania fisheries access protocol expires November 14, forcing about 60 EU vessels to stop fishing

The fisheries access protocol between the EU and Mauritania will expire on November 14, 2026. As the two sides have failed to agree on an extension, about 60 fishing vessels from EU countries will be forced to stop fishing in Mauritanian waters.

The current protocol was signed in November 2021 and allows vessels from ten EU countries to catch about 280,000 tonnes of fish and seafood in Mauritanian waters each year. In exchange, the EU pays Mauritania EUR 60.8 million per year, of which about EUR 3.3 million is used to develop the country's fisheries sector. The species covered by the agreement include shrimp, demersal fish, small pelagic fish and tuna.

Negotiations on a new protocol began in January 2026, but the two sides have so far been unable to overcome their differences, with the main dispute centering on the scale of financial compensation. Mauritania insists on maintaining the previous payment level, while the European Commission proposes cutting compensation proportionally in line with the reduction in the size of the European fleet operating in Mauritanian waters. In search of a compromise, European shipowners have said they are willing to raise their own licence fees by 10%.

The termination of the protocol could have the most serious consequences for Spain's fisheries. According to estimates by the government of Andalusia, the suspension of fishing will affect 25 vessels based at ports in the region and put about 500 jobs directly or indirectly linked to fisheries at risk.

The uncertainty surrounding the agreement also poses risks for Mauritania itself. According to government forecasts, revenue from the fisheries sector should reach MRO 10.1 billion (about USD 251 million) in 2027. In the first eight months of 2026, the corresponding revenue was only MRO 3.23 billion (about USD 80 million).

If a future agreement is eventually reached, vessels will still not be able to resume fishing before ratification, and the ratification process will take at least several weeks.