Press Release
MSC and SMCP launch landmark fisheries sustainability training initiative in Mauritania
Five-day workshop brings together industry, government and conservation stakeholders to strengthen sustainability expertise and support the future of Mauritania's octopus fishery.
NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA, 9 November 2026 – The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in collaboration with the Société Mauritanienne de Commercialisation de Poissons (SMCP), is hosting the first training workshop of its kind in Mauritania: a five-day capacity-building workshop (9–13 November), bringing together more than 25 representatives from the fishing industry, government authorities and environmental non-governmental organisations to strengthen national expertise in sustainable fisheries management.
The Level 2 training forms part of MSC's global Capacity Building Programme and has been tailored to support stakeholders involved in Mauritania's octopus Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), a multi-stakeholder initiative to improve the environmental performance and management of a fishery. The programme was adapted by Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC's Head of Fisheries Standard Accessibility, together with Inejih Cheikh Abdellahi, MSC's Fisheries Outreach Consultant for West Africa, and Sophie des Clers, an independent fisheries management consultant and sustainability auditor, to support the implementation of the FIP action plan.
Over five days, participants will learn how the internationally recognised MSC Fisheries Standard defines an environmentally sustainable fishery: healthy target fish stocks, minimising impacts on the marine environment, and effective fisheries management. They will also learn how to apply these principles in practice. Through technical presentations, case studies and practical exercises, they will learn to assess fishery performance against the Standard, interpret performance indicators and assessment requirements, identify improvement priorities and integrate sustainability considerations into fisheries policy, monitoring, surveillance and operational practices.
Octopus is Mauritania’s most valuable fisheries export, accounting for just 10.8% of the country’s seafood export volume but more than 53% of its export value (SMCP, 2025). The fishery also supports the livelihoods of thousands of fishers and coastal families. With international markets increasingly demanding sustainably sourced seafood, demonstrating responsible fisheries management is essential to maintaining access to high-value export markets and safeguarding the long-term economic benefits of this important resource.
The workshop is particularly relevant to Mauritania's commercially important octopus fishery, which is working towards MSC certification through a FIP led by the Mauritanian Association of Octopus Producers and Exporters (AMPEP) and SMCP. The initiative has achieved an 'A' progress rating on FisheryProgress, with recent milestones including the publication of a fishery management plan in 2026, introducing catch limits and quota arrangements, alongside measures to protect juvenile octopus through seasonal closures, minimum landing weights and fishing gear requirements. Scientific work led by the Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic Research and Fisheries (IMROP) has also supported the development of a draft harvest strategy.
Underscoring the strategic importance of this initiative, Mr Yerbe Elman Elemin, Director General of SMCP, said: “The sustainability of our fisheries resources is a central objective and an overarching priority across all our sector policies, in line with the high-level guidance of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. The Government of His Excellency the Prime Minister, Mr Mokhtar Ould Djay, is implementing this guidance with determination, to ensure sustainable management and maximise the social and economic returns of this resource.
“This important training workshop, held in cooperation with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), underscores our firm commitment to supporting the octopus Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) and to strengthening the capacity of our national staff and our partners in the public and private sectors. We are determined to meet the expectations of international markets with high environmental standards, while safeguarding the vital role this fishery plays in sustaining the livelihoods of thousands of Mauritanian families and supporting our national economy over the long term
Hammoud El Vadhel, SMCP’s Technical Assistant for the Mauritania Octopus FIP, said: “Octopus is a strategically important fishery for Mauritania, contributing to our national economy and supporting coastal livelihoods. As international markets increasingly demand seafood from sustainably managed fisheries, our ambition is to achieve MSC certification for Mauritanian octopus. Through the FIP, we are working alongside producers, exporters, scientists and government authorities to secure the long-term future of this valuable resource.
“This first-of-its-kind workshop gives Mauritanian stakeholders the knowledge required to move our improvement efforts forward together.”
The programme will also feature a virtual case study presented by Michael Marriott, MSC Programme Director for Africa, highlighting how long-term stakeholder collaboration and practical management measures have contributed to significant sustainability improvements in South Africa’s hake fishery, offering valuable lessons for Mauritania’s fisheries sector.
Inejih Cheikh Abdellahi, MSC’s Fisheries Outreach Consultant for West Africa, said: “Building local technical capacity is key to advancing sustainable fisheries in the region. By strengthening understanding of the MSC Fisheries Standard and sustainability tools, participants can turn knowledge into practical action. Most importantly, this expertise remains in the region, supporting lasting improvements well beyond the workshop.”
Developed in alignment with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the MSC Fisheries Standard provides an internationally recognised benchmark for sustainable fishing. As MSC approaches its 30th anniversary, it remains committed to supporting fisheries globally in improving their environmental performance, with an ambition for more than a third of global marine catch to be engaged in its programme by 2030.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation which sets globally recognised standards for sustainable fishing and the seafood supply chain. Fisheries representing 20% of the world’s wild marine catch are engaged in its certification program. For more information visit msc.org
A Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that works step by step to improve a fishery’s sustainability, with progress reported publicly on FisheryProgress.org.
MSC contact:
INEJIH Cheikh Abdellahi
MSC Fisheries Outreach Consultant: West Africa
cheikh.inejih@msc.org
SMCP contact:
Hammoud El Vadhel
Technical Assistant for the Mauritania Octopus FIP, SMCP
hammoudelvadel@gmail.com