More than 1,000 migrants have been rescued off the coast of Mauritania over 10 days, its coastguard said on Tuesday.
Thousands of people, most of them young, have tried to reach Europe from West Africa in recent years, mainly via the Spanish Canary Islands.
"In the space of 10 days, 1,076 migrants were rescued in Mauritanian waters, including 194 taken into custody by the Mauritanian Navy during an operation to assist a pirogue on May 31," Ahmed Moulaye, director of the Mauritanian coastguard's irregular migration unit, said.
The eight intercepted pirogues came from the nearby countries of The Gambia and Senegal but the nationalities of those on board were not specified.
Deadly journeys
The migrants were taken to new temporary reception centres in Nouakchott and the northwest city of Nouadhibou. The individuals were registered to determine whether they are vulnerable or eligible for international protection.
A recent tightening of maritime controls in Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco has led to a shift in the departure points of boats bound for the Canary Islands.
Migrants are now departing from farther south, particularly from the coasts of The Gambia and Guinea, lengthening the time spent at sea and increasing the dangers.
Thousands of people have died or disappeared attempting to reach Europe along the route in recent years.
