Last Updated: 2 April 2008

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MSC Assessment Status

The certification body, MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd (MEP), has announced the release of the final Performance Indicators and Scoring Guideposts that will be used to evaluate the Banc d-Arguin mullet fishery against MSC Principles and Criteria.

Please see the download section for a copy of the document.

The assessment will evaluate the fishery for compliance with the MSC’s Standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries through the point of the first draft of the assessment report.

The assessment will use newly developed methodological guidance based on a precautionary risk assessment approach, to compensate for lack of information. The MSC will use this report and reports from other assessments of small scale and data deficient fisheries in this project to evaluate the new approach and to inform a decision on future adoption of the guidance as a component of the MSC’s assessment process.

Fishery information

The fishing area is not only a National Park but has been declared a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. The park serves as a nursing ground for many fish species and is host to a highly diversified community of fish-eating birds. Marine mammals such as the guinea bottlenose dolphin, the humpback dolphin, two species of sperm whale and the orca have been spotted in the park.

The fishery is co-managed by the local communities, Banc d’Arguin National Park and other organisations, including the International Foundation of Banc d'Arguin National Park (FIBA), WWF and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). To preserve the marine resources of the area, motorised boats are forbidden, a maximum of 110 sailing boats is allowed in the park and only the resident Imraguen have permission to fish for mullet. The Imraguen are actively involved in conservation projects and are operating a monitoring system to study the fishery and the mullet catches.

Mullets (Mugil cephalus) and their eggs are an important source of income for local Mauritanian fishers. The export of mullet frozen roes to southern Europe and Asia provides a significant market.