Russia Expands Maritime Cooperation with Morocco and Mauritania under the “Great African Mission”
Maritime relations between Russia and several African countries, primarily Morocco and Mauritania, are rapidly developing as part of Moscow’s strategy to enhance its presence along African coasts through scientific research programs and investments in the fishing sector.
The Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, “Rosrybolovstvo,” indicated that the environmental conditions in the exclusive economic zones of Morocco and Mauritania are ideal for its fishing fleet, which opens promising prospects for sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
This information was included in an official statement released by the Russian agency following an extensive scientific meeting dedicated to presenting initial results of the so-called “Great African Mission,” overseen by the Moscow Institute of Oceanology and Fisheries. Ilya Shestakov, the head of the agency, confirmed that these studies were conducted using advanced and internationally recognized scientific tools, emphasizing that recorded indicators suggest a notable improvement in the populations of Atlantic mackerel, a species of particular interest to Russian fishermen in this region.
Shestakov highlighted that opportunities for expanding Russian fishing activities are not limited to Morocco and Mauritania but also include other countries in West Africa such as Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, where surface and bottom marine resources present high potential alternatives. He affirmed that this direction aligns with a comprehensive Russian vision to diversify economic and environmental partnerships with coastal African nations.
The Russian agency completed field assessments across six maritime areas, including Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone, gathering precise data on the biological characteristics of fish stocks in those coasts. Russia intends to offer scientific proposals to partner countries aimed at enhancing the sustainability of marine resources and ensuring their rational long-term exploitation, serving mutual economic interests while protecting the ecological balance in these regions.
