Morocco’s fishing industry posts mixed results with nearly $900 million in revenue

Morocco’s coastal and artisanal fishing sector generated close to 9 billion dirhams (approximately $900 million) through October 2025, marking a 3% decline from the same period last year, according to data from the National Office of Fisheries (ONP).

The sector’s overall catch volume dropped more significantly, falling 14% year-over-year to reach 948,177 tons. This disparity between value and volume reflects shifting market dynamics within Morocco’s vital fishing industry, which ranks as Africa’s largest by export value and contributes roughly 2-3% of the nation’s GDP.

The statistics reveal dramatic variations across different seafood categories. Shellfish sales surged an extraordinary 1,258% in value, while algae and white fish saw more modest gains of 27% and 9% respectively. By weight, shellfish landings jumped to 409 tons, followed by algae at 25,143 tons and white fish at 110,920 tons.

However, traditional high-volume categories experienced substantial declines. Pelagic fish—including sardines and mackerel that typically dominate Morocco’s catch—fell 18% to 757,613 tons. Cephalopods dropped 16% to 47,469 tons, while crustaceans decreased 6% to 6,221 tons.

Regional performance showed notable divergence between Morocco’s two coastal zones. Mediterranean ports bucked the national trend, posting a 6% increase in volume to 13,516 tons and a 3% rise in value to 601.2 million dirhams. Meanwhile, Atlantic coast ports—which handle the bulk of Morocco’s fishing activity—recorded a 14% volume decline to 934,661 tons, though values remained relatively stable with only a 4% drop to approximately 8.34 billion dirhams.

The fishing sector remains crucial for Morocco’s economy, supporting an estimated 700,000 direct and indirect jobs across coastal communities and accounting for 15-20% of the country’s agri-food exports.