Africa Proteine is a Mauritanian-based fishmeal company. This plant was the focus of a Reuters report about how fishmeal production is accelerating climate change. The article noted a “stomach-turning stench” in the area surrounding the plant.¹ The Chief Commercial Officer for Africa Proteine posted a video showing the Tian Ye He 6, a factory ship, in port.² An Equasis document for the vessel, Tian Ye He 6, lists the owner of the ship as Zhoushan Ri Xin Ocean.³ Africa Proteine operates the Dewas 1, which was licensed to fish in Mauritanian waters as recently as 2022, according to the Fisheries Ministry.⁴

This plant relies partially on species that are unsustainable. Among the fish species processed by this plant are flat and round sardinella from Mauritanian coastal waters, according to a Fishery Improvement Project Tracking Database accessed in February of 2025.⁵ In 2023, these two species were classified as “overexploited” in this area, according to the FAO.⁶ This means that fish are caught faster than they are able to reproduce, shrinking the population and reducing their capacity to recover to healthy levels. Despite this assessment, this plant still remained as part of a FIP as of 2024.⁷ The continued worsening state of key species that are being targeted by this plant has led some critics to question whether the FIP is more a form of greenwashing than an actual bridge toward improved fishery management.

Africa Proteine did not respond to a request for comment.⁸