Morocco’s Secretariat of State for Maritime Fisheries has ordered an immediate closure of the southern fishing zone — known as Stock C — to all vessels authorized to harvest small pelagic species, effective through the end of June 2026. The measure targets the protection of juvenile sardine populations identified in concentrations at depths below 50 meters.
The decision follows scientific monitoring conducted by the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), whose stock assessments revealed a marked dominance of juvenile sardines — specifically Sardina pilchardus — with a high proportion of individuals below the minimum size of sexual maturity. Field observations from vessels operating in the zone since the opening of the fishing season on February 16, 2026, confirmed the institute’s findings.
Authorities attribute the unusually high concentration of immature fish to hydroclimatic fluctuations, particularly temperature variations that have disrupted spawning and recruitment cycles. An acoustic survey conducted by INRH identified a zone occupied almost exclusively by juveniles, with their presence overwhelmingly recorded at bathymetric depths under 50 meters.
The Secretariat of State warned that intensive exploitation under these conditions would carry severe risks, most critically a reduction in the stock’s renewal potential — a threat that could compromise not only near-term catch volumes but the long-term viability of the entire southern sardine fishery.
The closure was enacted following consultation with fishing industry stakeholders, who were briefed on the state of the stock and the scientific rationale underpinning the emergency measures. Authorities stressed that the restrictions are designed to limit fishing pressure, support the growth and survival of immature individuals, and contribute to rebuilding biomass levels — safeguarding both ecological sustainability and the economic interests of those who depend on the fishery over the medium and long term.
