Dakhlet Nouadhibou

Dakhlet Nouadhibou functions as Mauritania's economic engine—the bay hosting both Africa's second-largest iron ore export operation and one of the world's richest fishing grounds. Iron ore arrives at Point Central's export terminal via a 650-kilometer railway from Zouérat mines, with SNIM hitting record production of 14.01 million tons in 2023. The port handles exports generating over $2.5 billion annually—nearly 40% of Mauritania's total export revenue. Meanwhile, 1.2 million tons of tuna, shrimp, and other fish are caught annually in adjacent waters, though only 5% is processed locally due to high port costs compared to the nearby Canary Islands. The EU's largest fisheries agreement with any third country governs European access to these waters. The Bay of Nouadhibou contains a darker monument: over 300 abandoned ships forming one of the world's largest ship graveyards, vessels deliberately sunk when repair costs exceeded scrap value. Nouadhibou city is Mauritania's economic capital if not its political one, and fishing operations employ thousands in catching and processing. Yet the extractive economy creates vulnerability: iron ore prices fluctuate on global markets, and foreign fleets threaten fishing sustainability through overexploitation. By 2026, this region's trajectory depends on whether SNIM maintains production records, whether fishing quotas prevent stock collapse, and whether green hydrogen projects diversify the export base.