Russia moves to renew fisheries agreement with Morocco
Russia is set to sign a four-year fisheries deal with Morocco after the previous agreement expired in December 2024. The new deal would allow Russian vessels to fish 80,000 tonnes of seafood in Moroccan waters by the end of 2025.
MOROCCO – Russia is finalizing a new fisheries agreement with Morocco, set to last four years, replacing the expired deal from December 2024.
Ilya Shestakov, head of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency, confirmed the development on March 17 in an interview with Interfax.
He stated that all necessary discussions had been completed, and a draft order had been submitted for government approval.
Once signed, the agreement will permit Russian vessels to catch 80,000 tonnes of fish annually, including sardines, sardinella, mackerel, and anchovies, within Morocco’s exclusive economic zone.
Morocco’s fishing sector remains a crucial part of its economy, with total fish production reaching 1.42 million tonnes in 2024, generating 16.3 billion dirhams (US$1.6 billion).
Morocco’s Fishing Industry at a Glance
Most of Morocco’s fish production comes from capture fisheries, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean.
Although aquaculture remains a smaller sector, it is expanding with support from joint initiatives like Morocco’s partnership with the European Union to boost fish farming.
Morocco is also a key global exporter of seafood, with exports valued at US$2.7 billion in 2022.
The country has a strong seafood processing industry, with 518 onshore processing plants and 311 sea-based freezing units.
The fisheries sector employs approximately 700,000 people, contributing 1.5% to Morocco’s GDP.
Internationally, Morocco ranks among the top fish-producing nations.
A 2018 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) placed the country 13th globally and the largest in Africa, with production figures of 1.4 million tonnes.
The upcoming agreement with Russia will further integrate Morocco into global seafood trade while ensuring continued access for Russian fishing fleets in its waters.
Tunisia’s seafood faces improvement
This news comes a few weeks after it was reported that Investment in Tunisia’s aquaculture sector grew significantly in 2024, with approved projects valued at US$8.4 million (26 million dinars), according to the latest bulletin from the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA).
This amount is nearly seven times higher than the US$1.8 million (3.9 million dinars) registered in 2023, reflecting a growing interest in aquaculture at a time when its contribution to local fish supply remains limited.
The General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture reports that Tunisia produced 158,500 tons of fish products in 2022, with aquaculture accounting for just 13 percent, or 21,000 tons.
The government has set a target for aquaculture to contribute 30 percent of the country’s total fish production by 2030, which has created a favorable environment for investment in the industry.
Marine fish farming remains the dominant aquaculture activity in Tunisia, with official data showing its prominence in the sector.
Despite the increased interest in 2024, aquaculture remains one of the least invested sectors in agriculture.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
