Big catch on the coast of Mauritania

The visit of a Chinese businessman delivers the country a multimillion-dollar industry

When Lan Pingyong first set foot in the coastal city of Nouadhibou, Mauritania, nine years ago, one of his first reactions was wide-eyed astonishment.

"Walking along the seaside there were conchs and shells everywhere, fishes and shrimps left by fishermen lying on the beach, and shoals of fish swimming around the coastal waters," the businessman said.