The marketing of fish in Mauritania, including export, is now controlled by the State which has withdrawn the private sector.

This resulted in the enhancement of participation of the state in the capital of the Mauritanian Fish Marketing Company (SMCP), in charge of the flow of this important commodity through the country.

During a special meeting of the General Assembly of the SMCP on Sunday in the economic capital (Nouadhibou), the Mauritanian government has increased its shares to 70% stake in the company instead of 35%.

In the past, private owners who controlled the capital of the SMCP had the final word concerning the product price, export routes and customer choice.

Mauritania has some of the richest fishing grounds in the world, especially in the Atlantic Ocean.

The fisheries sector accounts for 29% of its budget, 40% of its export earnings, 10% of its GDP and it provides 36,000 jobs, according to the statistics of the National Federation of Fisheries.