Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Protected area / relocation · Mauritania · 2002–2025

Banc d'Arguin National Park, the BACoMaB trust fund and fishing pressure

Nature's voice · report
Mullet and meagre in my waters were overfished early on, and resident species such as tilapias and catfishes became a growing share of catches, according to twenty years of monitoring published in 2023.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record.
Recorded
  • In 2024 five of my elasmobranch species were landed by the park's lanches at 408 t, against 114 t in 2023, according to the park's dashboard. Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
  • Guitarfish landings rose from 96 t to 183 t, Rhinoptera marginata from 24 t to 161 t and Rhizoprionodon acutus from 13 t to 61 t; the park notes these species are on the IUCN Red List. Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
  • Selachians were 4.29% of the lanches' total landings and then 10%, according to the dashboard. Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
What the record lacks: 5 none on record · 2 not disclosed · 2 disputed · 1 unclear See the gaps

The BACoMaB conservation trust fund, capitalised by KfW, AFD/FFEM, MAVA and the EU through fisheries-agreement sectoral support, finances part of the running costs of Banc d'Arguin National Park in Mauritania. The park's 2024 dashboard records rising landings of threatened sharks and rays by its resident fishers, and a 2023 study found bony fish stocks inside the park overfished.

≈ EUR 2.3mBACoMaB payouts to the park's and Diawling park's running costs, 2014–2020
Cumulative; about 30% of the two protected areas' operating costs over the period (AFD evaluation, March 2021). The fund's capital was EUR 40 million at end-2023 (AFD, December 2025).

Status As of December 2025 (AFD factsheet): BACoMaB was capitalised at more than EUR 40 million; the PNBA's 2024 dashboard (final version August 2025) recorded 408 t of five elasmobranch species landed.

What?
The BACoMaB trust fund, capitalised with EU fisheries-agreement sectoral support and donor funds, finances part of the running costs of Banc d'Arguin National Park, where bony fish stocks were found overfished and landings of threatened sharks and rays by resident lanches rose in 2024. AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)
Where?
Parc National du Banc d'Arguin, about 12,000 km² between Nouadhibou and Nouakchott in Mauritania; a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. AFD
When?
Trust fund idea 2002; EU earmark 2008–2012; AFD/FFEM support 2011–2019; grants 2014–2020; AFD evaluation March 2021; PNBA dashboard 2024 (final version August 2025); AFD factsheet December 2025. AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)
Who?
Gained
  • Banc d'Arguin National Park (PNBA) and Diawling National Park (PND) — About EUR 2.3 million of running costs covered in 2014–2020; EUR 530,000 (PNBA) and EUR 190,000 (PND) in 2024 AFD
Lost
  • Imraguen fishers — A fisherman told Global Voices that octopus and yellow mullet had disappeared since the China deal Global Voices
Harmed
  • Bony fish stocks inside the park (mullet, meagre) — Overfished, according to twenty years of monitoring Lemrabott S.Y.C. et al.
  • Guitarfish, Rhinoptera marginata, Rhizoprionodon acutus and other elasmobranchs — Landings of five species rose from 114 t to 408 t between 2023 and 2024; the PNBA notes they are on the IUCN Red List Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
Why?
The EU–Mauritania fisheries agreements channelled sectoral support to the park through BACoMaB; the AFD evaluation described this as a payment for ecosystem services linking international industrial fishing with renewal of fish stocks through marine protected areas. AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)
How?
BACoMaB's endowment finances recurrent costs and surveillance of the parks; the evaluator noted attention to preserving the endowment rather than maximising grants. The park's resident lanches fish inside the park and landings of selachians are recorded in the dashboard. AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

BACoMaB, a conservation trust fund, finances the recurrent costs and surveillance of Banc d'Arguin National Park (PNBA) and Diawling National Park (PND). Its beneficiaries are the PNBA, the PND, the Cap Blanc satellite reserve and the Côte des Phoques reserve. The idea of a conservation trust fund was raised by FIBA in 2002. An AFD evaluation (BRLi, March 2021) described the fund's position in the EU–Mauritania fisheries agreements as a mechanism recognised as a payment for ecosystem services linking international industrial fishing with the renewal of fish stocks through marine protected areas. The EU's 2008–2012 protocol earmarked EUR 1 million a year for the PNBA.

The 2021 evaluation gave BACoMaB's capital as nearly EUR 31.5 million in 2019, and also as EUR 32 million, with shares of KfW 47%, AFD and FFEM 25%, MAVA 18% and EU-RIM 9.5%. AFD's December 2025 factsheet gives total capital of EUR 40 million at end-2023 and more than EUR 40 million at end-2024, of which EUR 8.3 million came from AFD. AFD says it has committed EUR 18 million since 2013 to marine and coastal biodiversity in Mauritania, and that a further EUR 3.5 million is planned for an amortisation fund and a PNBA-specific window open to private contributions. AFD and FFEM supported BACoMaB with EUR 8.7 million between 2011 and 2019 (AFD EUR 7.5 million, FFEM EUR 1.2 million), 98% disbursed.

According to the evaluation, BACoMaB financed PNBA and PND recurrent costs for a cumulative total of about EUR 2.3 million between 2014 and 2020, about 30% of the protected areas' operating costs over the period. In 2024, AFD states, EUR 530,000 funded 538 PNBA patrols and 2,571 hours at sea, intercepting 238 boats, while EUR 190,000 supported the PND. The PNBA's own dashboard counts 528 outings in 2024 (468 in 2023), 107 days and 2,571 hours at sea in 2024 (80 days and 1,875 hours in 2023), and boardings of 213 pirogues, 40 purse seiners (80 pirogues) and 20 lanches.

Lemrabott et al. (Aquatic Conservation, 2023) reported from twenty years of monitoring that mullet and meagre in the park were overfished early on, while resident species (tilapias, catfishes) became a growing share of catches; they recommended closures during breeding and reference points. The PNBA's 2024 dashboard records that landings of five elasmobranch species by the park's lanches totalled 408 t in 2024, against 114 t in 2023, about 98% of selachian catches, and that the selachian share of total lanche landings rose from 4.29% to 10%. Guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) rose from 96 t to 183 t (+91%), Rhinoptera marginata from 24 t to 161 t (+571%), Rhizoprionodon acutus from 13 t to 61 t (+369%), and scalloped hammerhead by 75% (to about 2 t). The PNBA notes these species are on the IUCN Red List. Lanches landed no less than 4,368 t of fish in 2024.

The PNBA Scientific Council (CSBA, 17–19 July 2024) asked the park to make a real effort backed by a reliable information system on selachian fishing. The PNBA recommends more sea patrols of lanches, gear checks at embarkation and landing, and a calendar to limit catches of the five species, and states that its current budget does not allow the four planned monitoring missions. In 2021 a 40 m Turkish purse seiner was authorised to fish in Zone A, adjacent to the park, from 19 August to 5 November (CFFA).

  1. 2002Idea of a conservation trust fund raised by FIBA
  2. 2008EC–Mauritania protocol 2008–2012 earmarks EUR 1 million a year for the PNBA
  3. 2011AFD/FFEM support to BACoMaB begins (to 2019; EUR 8.7 million)
  4. 2014BACoMaB grants to the PNBA and PND begin (to 2020; about EUR 2.3 million cumulative)
  5. 2021AFD evaluation of BACoMaB (March); Zone A seiner derogation 19 Aug–5 Nov
  6. 2023Lemrabott et al. publish twenty years of monitoring showing overfishing of bony fish stocks in the park
  7. 2024PNBA records 408 t of five elasmobranch species landed by lanches, against 114 t in 2023; Scientific Council session 17–19 July
  8. 2025PNBA 2024 dashboard final version (August); AFD factsheet (December)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“a payment for ecosystem services linking international industrial fishing with renewal of fish stocks through marine protected areas”

AFD evaluation of BACoMaB (BRLi), on the fund's position in the EU–Mauritania fisheries agreements · March 2021 · translated from French · AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)

“operational, with stable and transparent governance”

“grant amounts are not necessarily maximised, with strong attention to preserving the endowment”

“to make a real effort accompanied by a reliable information system”

“the open door to incursions into the Banc d'Arguin”

Maimouna Saleck, BiodiverCités, on the 2021 Zone A derogation for a Turkish purse seiner · 2021 · CFFA (B. Gorez)

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

BACoMaB capital
Government and regulators
AFD evaluation (March 2021)

Nearly EUR 31.5 million in 2019 and EUR 32 million current capital.

AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)
Government and regulators
AFD factsheet (December 2025)

EUR 40 million at end-2023; more than EUR 40 million at end-2024; EUR 18 million is AFD's commitment since 2013.

AFD
2024 surveillance activity
Government and regulators
PNBA management dashboard 2024

528 outings, 2,571 hours at sea.

Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
Government and regulators
AFD factsheet (December 2025)

538 patrols, 2,571 hours at sea, 238 boats intercepted.

AFD

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • The fund is a mechanism recognised as a payment for ecosystem services linking international industrial fishing to the renewal of fish stocks through marine protected areas.
    AFD evaluation (BRLi), March 2021 · AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)
  • EUR 530,000 funded 538 PNBA patrols and 2,571 hours at sea, intercepting 238 boats; EUR 190,000 supported the PND.
    AFD factsheet, December 2025 · AFD
  • The park's budget does not allow the four planned monitoring missions.
    PNBA management dashboard 2024 · Parc National du Banc d'Arguin

Recorded

  • Selachian landings by lanches: 408 t of five species in 2024 against 114 t in 2023; selachian share of total lanche landings from 4.29% to 10%.
  • Twenty years of monitoring found mullet and meagre overfished early on, with resident species a growing share of catches (Lemrabott et al., 2023).
  • BACoMaB capital: nearly EUR 31.5 million (2019), EUR 32 million (current capital in the 2021 evaluation), EUR 40 million (end-2023) and more than EUR 40 million (end-2024).
  • The "Financement durable" indicator in the PNBA 2024 dashboard was not filled in for 2024.
  • No earmark for the PNBA or BACoMaB appears in the summary of the EU's 2021–2026 protocol.

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

Not published
BACoMaB grants to PNBA and PND running costs, cumulative≈ €2.3m
Window: 2014–2020
About 30% of the protected areas' operating costs over the period.
BACoMaB 2024 grant to the PNBA€0.53m
Window: 2024
538 patrols, 2,571 hours at sea, 238 boats intercepted.
BACoMaB 2024 grant to the PND€0.19m
Window: 2024
AFD/FFEM support to BACoMaB€8.7m
Window: 2011–2019
AFD EUR 7.5 million, FFEM EUR 1.2 million; 98% disbursed.
BACoMaB capital€40m
Window: end-2023
EUR 31.5–32 million in the 2019–2021 evaluation; more than EUR 40 million at end-2024, of which EUR 8.3 million from AFD.
EU earmark for the PNBA in the 2008–2012 protocol, per year€1m
Window: 2008–2012

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
Fisheries-sector turnover in the park's area, 2024—
91.7 million MRU (98.51 million MRU in 2023); fish trading is 91% (PNBA dashboard).
Tourism turnover in the park's area, 2024—
463,880 MRU (PNBA dashboard).
Currency: EUR · Window: Mixed — see each line. Figures cover different periods and are not compared as a ratio. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • pnba (2025): The park recommends more sea patrols of lanches, gear checks at embarkation and landing, and a calendar to limit catches of the five species; it states that the current budget does not allow the four planned monitoring missions. · Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
  • afd (March 2021): Its evaluator described BACoMaB as operational, with stable and transparent governance, while noting that grant amounts are not necessarily maximised, with strong attention to preserving the endowment. · AFD (BRLi, B. Landreau)

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Elasmobranchs landed by lanches
408 t
2024, against 114 t in 2023; five species
Guitarfish landings
96 → 183 t
+91%, 2023 to 2024; IUCN Red List species
Bony fish stocks
Overfished
Mullet and meagre, twenty years of monitoring (2023 study)
Surveillance, 2024
538 patrols
EUR 530,000 from BACoMaB (AFD)

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

Money

  • None on record Fisheries-sector turnover in the park's area, 2024 — 91.7 million MRU (98.51 million MRU in 2023); fish trading is 91% (PNBA dashboard).
  • None on record Tourism turnover in the park's area, 2024 — 463,880 MRU (PNBA dashboard).

Court

Accounts

Record

  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: the amount of the 2024 BACoMaB grant to the PNBA does not appear in the PNBA dashboard text; the 2024 grant and the 2025 request were reviewed at PNBA–BACoMaB meetings on 29 September 2024 and 11 December 2024.
  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: the "Financement durable" (sustainable financing) indicator in the PNBA 2024 dashboard was not filled in.
  • None on record None on record: a court case; the PNBA cites the 2003 Ten Alloul workshop decisions and national law (the PNBA law and the fisheries code) against targeting guitarfish.
  • None on record None on record: an earmark for the PNBA or BACoMaB in the summary of the EU's 2021–2026 protocol.
  • Unclear Unclear: whether any 2021–2026 EU sectoral support goes to BACoMaB, and how much.

Did the harm stop?

Not established. The PNBA's 2024 dashboard records selachian landings rising from 114 t in 2023 to 408 t in 2024, and the park states its budget does not allow the four planned monitoring missions.

Who paid?

The park's fish stocks, with bony fish overfished and selachian landings rising. BACoMaB paid about EUR 2.3 million toward running costs in 2014–2020 and EUR 530,000 for PNBA surveillance in 2024.

Sources

Voices on record: — Company or project✓ Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society✓ Researchers

Communities and civil society

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.

Institutions

IUCN Red List
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and its global list assessing species' risk of extinction.

Carbon and conservation finance

Endowment
A fund invested to produce long-term income, from which spending is drawn.

Law and courts

Arbitration
A private dispute process in which an appointed arbitrator, instead of a court, decides the case.