More than 1,000 would-be irregular migrants were rescued off the coast of Mauritania in ten days, signaling a resurgence in migration flows on the dangerous Atlantic route, AFP learned from the coast guard on Tuesday.

Thousands of people from West Africa, mostly young people, have been attempting clandestine migration for years from the coasts of their countries, taking the perilous Atlantic route to reach Europe, mainly via the Spanish Canary Islands, aboard overcrowded and often dilapidated boats.

"In the space of ten days, 1,076 migrants were rescued in Mauritanian waters, including 194 taken into care by the National Navy during the assistance to a pirogue on May 31," Ahmed Moulaye, director of the fight against irregular migration of the Mauritanian coast guard, told AFP.

"At this rate, arrivals could reach an unprecedented level this year," continued Mr. Moulaye.

These departures took place a few days after the major Muslim festival of Tabaski at the end of May, following a lull of several months in sea rescues.

The eight intercepted canoes came from neighboring Gambia and Senegal, without the nationalities of their passengers being specified, Pierre Beziz, a European diplomat based in Nouakchott, the capital, told AFP.

All migrants were received in new Temporary Reception Centres for Foreigners (CATE) in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou (northwest), funded by the European Union, where they were registered to determine if they are vulnerable or eligible for international protection.

"At the same time, there have been zero arrivals in the Canary Islands, whereas we expected an equal number to arrive there," Pierre Beziz pointed out.

The recent strengthening of maritime controls in Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco has led to clandestine canoe departures to the Canary Islands shifting southward, particularly from the coasts of Gambia and Guinea-Conakry, lengthening the time spent at sea and increasing the dangers.

In search of a better future and at the risk of their lives, many African exiles are forced to take the clandestine route, as Europe has drastically restricted the issuance of visas and is increasingly controlling its borders.

Thousands of people have died or gone missing trying to reach Europe in this way in recent years.