Morocco’s Mediterranean ports: 13% drop in fishing landings, 8% increase in value in Jan-Aug

Small-scale and coastal fishing landings at Morocco’s Mediterranean ports reached 10,879 tons by the end of August, marking a 13% decline compared to the same period in 2023, according to the National Fisheries Office (ONP).

Despite the drop in volume, the value of these landings surged 8% year-on-year, totaling around 513.17 million dirhams for the first eight months of 2024, up from 473.91 million dirhams in the same period last year, the ONP noted in its latest report on fishing statistics.

Pelagic fish landings along the Mediterranean coast, from Tangier to Saidia, fell sharply by 31% to 4,068 tons, with their value decreasing 13% to 110.35 million dirhams, compared to 127.19 million dirhams for 5,921 tons in August 2023.

White fish landings also dropped by 14% to 1,701 tons, with a slight 3% dip in value to 70.87 million dirhams from 72.69 million dirhams for 1,979 tons the previous year.

On the upside, landings of cephalopods rose 19% to 4,170 tons, driving a 26% increase in revenue to 269.70 million dirhams. Crustacean landings remained flat at 881 tons, though revenues edged up 10% to 62.20 million dirhams.

Shellfish landings, however, plummeted 100% to zero tons from 146 tons a year earlier, generating no revenue compared to 2.77 million dirhams in August 2023. Meanwhile, seaweed landings skyrocketed by 8,691% to 59 tons from just one ton last year.

On a national scale, total landings of small-scale and coastal fishing products reached 766,196 tons by the end of August 2024, reflecting a 2% increase from a year earlier. In value, these landings rose 5% to more than 7.41 billion dirhams.