Mauritania has a long coast linking the two capitals, and it is considered one of the richest marine fisheries in the world, but less than 25% of the Mauritanian population are consumers of fish or other marine resources. The exploitation of these resources began in the middle of the 1970s when the country was experiencing a severe drought. Currently, fish exports represent 50% of gross national exports, greatly benefiting the Mauritanian economy. This trade constitutes 54% of the export revenue, representing 15% of the GDP and 30% of the general budget. The country has four large ports (two in Nouakchott and two in Nouadhibou).