Tunisia’s aquaculture sector sees rising investment in 2024

TUNISIA – 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.

Private investments in agriculture amounted to US$144 million (444.4 million dinars) in 2024, with aquaculture accounting for just 5.8 percent of the total.

The majority of investments, US$84.5 million (261 million dinars), were directed toward agriculture, making up 58.7 percent of the total.

Services related to agriculture and maritime fishing received 21.2 percent of investments, while the maritime fishing sector attracted 11.5 percent.

Aquaculture ranked fourth, ahead of only the sector involved in the initial processing of agricultural and fishery products.

Tunisia’s Untapped Potential in Aquaculture

Fish and seafood are a key part of the Tunisian diet, with per capita consumption averaging 13.2 kilograms per year, according to a 2019 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Tunisia has a 1,350-kilometer Mediterranean coastline, a maritime zone covering over 80,000 square kilometers, and seven lagoons totaling 100,000 hectares, offering significant potential for aquaculture.

The country has 25 marine aquaculture farms, each producing between 400 and 3,500 tons annually, with the production of seabass and seabream dominating the sector.

A 2021 report from SwitchMed indicated that aquaculture accounted for 16 percent of Tunisia’s total aquatic product output and employed over 2,000 people.

With declining wild fish stocks and increasing demand for seafood, the sector has experienced steady growth in recent years.

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