Morocco, COMHAFAT to partner in standardizing fishing practices in Africa
MOROCCO – The Moroccan Confederation of Industrial Pelagic Fishing Shipowners (COMAIP) and the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation between African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT) are signing an agreement to align fishing regulations across African nations.
The memorandum of understanding, formalized on February 2025, aims to improve sustainability in the fishing industry.
This development is taking place alongside the 7th Halieutis exhibition in Agadir, running from February 6 to 9, which focuses on research and innovation in fisheries.
According to local reports, the partnership will address three key areas: enhancing regulations and best practices, facilitating knowledge exchange among participating countries, and developing solutions suited to the continent’s fisheries sector.
Morocco has previously engaged in similar agreements to promote sustainable fishing.
During the High-Level Conference of the Blue Belt Initiative in 2023, the country committed its scientific expertise to assessing fish stocks in Benin, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire to help those nations develop conservation strategies.
For African coastal states, balancing regulation, monitoring, technology, and regional collaboration remains critical as they attempt to counter the effects of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
With overfishing threatening fish stocks, governments are searching for ways to protect an industry that provides income for more than 12 million people across the continent.
A 2022 report by the Financial Transparency Coalition, titled Fishy Networks: Uncovering the Companies and Individuals Behind Illegal Fishing Worldwide, estimates that African nations lose as much as US$11.5 billion annually due to illicit financial flows linked to IUU fishing.
COMHAFAT, which consists of 22 member states, plays a key role in fostering cooperation to address these issues.
Seafood and freshwater fish contribute 22% of the animal protein available in Africa, and as pressure on these resources grows, more initiatives are being introduced to ensure long-term sustainability.
Morocco is a leading fish producer in Africa.
In 2023, Morocco’s coastal and artisanal fishing landings increased by 9% compared to the same period in 2022.
Pelagic fish made up the largest portion of landings, increasing by 13% compared to 2022.
The country’s fish exports have been increasing in value and quantity as well.
In 2022, Morocco exported $2.7 billion worth of fish and seafood products, which was a record amount.
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