Mauritania Introduces Regulation to Ensure Food Security and Prioritize Direct Human Consumption over Industrial Processes

In a move aimed at enhancing food security and placing a focus on direct human consumption over industrial processes, Mauritania implemented a new regulation in 2023. This regulation sets a limit on the amount of pelagic catches that can be processed for indirect human consumption.

The regulation comes as a response to the need to ensure adequate food supply for the population and to prioritize the direct consumption of seafood over its utilization in industrial production processes. By setting a cap on the quantity of pelagic catches processed for indirect human consumption, Mauritania is taking proactive measures to address these concerns.

The decision highlights the government’s commitment to safeguarding food security and promoting sustainable fisheries management in the country. By limiting the processing of pelagic catches for industrial purposes, Mauritania aims to secure sufficient seafood resources for direct human consumption, especially in a region where fishing plays a vital role in the economy and daily life of the population.

In recent years, concerns have been raised about the balance between direct human consumption of seafood and its use in industrial processes in Mauritania. The new regulation represents a step towards addressing these concerns and ensuring that the population’s nutritional needs are met through the direct consumption of fish rather than its conversion into industrial products.

With this regulation in place, Mauritania is aligning its policies with the goal of enhancing food security, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and prioritizing the well-being of its population. It reflects a shift towards a more holistic approach to managing fisheries resources and underscores the importance of prioritizing direct human consumption over industrial utilization of seafood resources.