Madar (Nouakchott) - The Spanish government has expressed regret over the stalled negotiations between Mauritania and the European Union and the two sides' failure to reach a new fishing agreement, announcing that most of its vessels operating in Mauritanian waters will head to Guinea-Bissau after the current protocol expired without renewal.
Spanish news agency Europa Press reported on Saturday evening, citing sources at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, that Madrid intends to keep pressing the European Commission to resume negotiations with Nouakchott, despite the deadline having passed, with the aim of reaching a new agreement that would allow the European fleet to return to Mauritanian waters as soon as possible.
In the same vein, Spanish Fisheries Minister Luis Planas expressed regret on the X platform over the end of the agreement, calling on the European Commission to continue its contacts with the Mauritanian authorities in order to conclude a new fishing protocol.
According to the sources, Guinea-Bissau will be the temporary destination for most of the Spanish vessels leaving Mauritanian waters, while other vessels will head to Portuguese fishing grounds.
According to Spanish ministry data, the fleet benefiting from the fishing agreement with Mauritania comprises around 30 vessels, including 18 specialising in crustacean fishing and 7 tuna vessels, along with other vessels active in various fisheries.
Madrid called for the negotiations to be raised to a higher level and for political efforts to be stepped up to reach a new agreement, with the involvement of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that a continued deadlock could lead some European vessels to keep operating under the flags of other countries.
