Viral Video Misleadingly Portrays Mauritania Fishing Boats as Migrant Fleet Bound for Spain

Spain's Canary Islands are facing renewed pressure from migrant arrivals, with local authorities declaring a state of emergency due to a sharp increase in crossings. A viral video claims to show thousands of boats in Mauritania amassing at the port, supposedly ready to set sail for the archipelago. However, the satellite images are misleading, showing a traditional fishing port, not a fleet of migrant vessels.

The viral video, which has been shared on social media, appears to show thousands of boats packed closely together at the port of Nouadhibou in northwestern Mauritania. Multiple social media users have presented the footage as "proof" that thousands of migrant boats are preparing to set sail towards the Spanish coast. However, using Google Earth, it was verified that the exact location shown in the video is the port of Nouadhibou, a coastal city in Mauritania.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the satellite images being shared online actually date back to March 2025 and are not recent images showing boats gathering ahead of a mass departure. In fact, similar concentrations of boats have been seen in the same location dating back to 2013 and even 2005. The images show a traditional fishing port, which supports thousands of families and supplies local markets with fish.

According to Mauritania's tourism ministry, the port of Nouadhibou is a vital fishing hub. The boats visible in the viral images are fishing vessels, not a fleet of migrant boats preparing to cross the Atlantic. This is not the first time such claims have circulated online, with similar videos being shared since at least 2020, and Spanish fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked these claims.

While Mauritania is an important departure and transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe through West Africa, there is no evidence that the people rescued by the Mauritanian navy off the coast of Nouadhibou departed from the fishing port featured in the viral video. The European Union has established a partnership with Mauritania aimed at curbing irregular migration, including departures by boat towards the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are facing genuine pressure from increased migrant arrivals, with thousands of people reaching the Spanish archipelago in recent weeks, particularly the island of El Hierro, where local authorities have declared a state of emergency. However, the viral footage does not provide evidence of a coordinated mass departure from Mauritania.

In conclusion, the viral video has taken authentic satellite images of a traditional fishing port out of context and presented them online as proof of an imminent migrant crossing to Spain. The situation with migration is real, but the footage is misleading, and it is essential to verify information before sharing it online to avoid spreading misinformation.

Key points

• The viral video showing thousands of boats in Mauritania is misleading and actually depicts a traditional fishing port.
• The port of Nouadhibou in Mauritania supports thousands of families and supplies local markets with fish.
• The Canary Islands are facing genuine pressure from increased migrant arrivals, but there is no evidence of a coordinated mass departure from Mauritania.