Casablanca – Morocco’s coastal and artisanal fisheries experienced a mixed performance in 2025, with total volumes and revenues declining overall, while some ports and species showed notable gains. According to the National Fisheries Office (ONP), the total volume of marketed products reached 1.13 million tons, down 15% from 1.33 million tons in 2024. Revenue from these fisheries totaled $1.04 billion, reflecting a 4% decrease compared with the previous year.
The decline in total landings was largely driven by drops in pelagic fish, which typically account for nearly 80% of national catches. Landings of these species fell 18%, reaching 909,750 tons, generating revenues of $361 million, down 8% from 2024. Similarly, cephalopods and crustaceans saw reductions in both volume and value. Cephalopod landings fell 18% to 49,876 tons, generating $421 million, while crustaceans declined 6% to 7,640 tons, worth $394,000.
Other species, however, showed significant growth. Shellfish experienced an 840% increase in volume, totaling 956 tons, and saw their market value surge 577%. Seaweed landings increased 21% to 27,010 tons, and white fish rose 7% in volume to 137,569 tons, with a value increase of 7%, reaching $202 million. These gains, however, were insufficient to offset the overall decline in the sector.
Geographically, the Atlantic coast, which traditionally handles the majority of Morocco’s fisheries, recorded a 15% decline in total volume, with 1.11 million tons landed, generating $974 million, down 5% from the previous year. Underperformance at major Atlantic ports was a key factor. For instance:
- Dakhla: volume fell 29%, value down 12%, contributing about $103 million.
- Boujdour: landings declined 10%.
- Agadir: down 13%.
- Essaouira: volume dropped 32%.
Despite the overall downturn, several Atlantic ports reported significant improvements. Laâyoune recorded a 17% rise in volume and 5% in value, totaling 209,954 tons worth $161 million. Tan-Tan posted a 65% increase in landings and a 34% rise in value, generating $136 million. Tarfaya saw 43% growth in volume and 21% in revenue, amounting to $50 million. Positive results were also noted in ports such as Safi, Mehdia, Mohammedia, Moulay Bousselham, Salé, Imouddar, and Grezim, where volume and revenue growth ranged from 2% to 63%.
On the Mediterranean coast, fisheries demonstrated resilience, with landings increasing 7% to 15,069 tons. Revenues rose 3%, reaching $53 million. Smaller ports along the Mediterranean also recorded exceptional growth: Amtar (+117%), Chmaala (+245%), Kaa Asras (+194%), Targha (+346% in volume, +57% in value), and Inouaren (+100% in volume, +90% in value).
By species, the performance varied: white fish recorded a 7% increase in both volume and value, generating approximately $161 million, while pelagic fish, as noted, fell by 18% in volume and 8% in value. Cephalopods experienced similar declines, with volume down 18% and value down 6%. Shellfish and seaweed, in contrast, enjoyed robust growth in both volume and market value.
Analysts point to several factors that likely influenced the overall decline, including overfishing, climate change, pollution, and illegal fishing activities, as well as lower performance at major Atlantic ports. For example, Dakhla, which usually contributes significantly to total landings, recorded a sharp drop, while ports such as Laâyoune and Tan-Tan absorbed some of the impact with strong local growth.
Overall, 2025 highlights the contrasting regional dynamics of Morocco’s coastal and artisanal fisheries: while the Atlantic coast faced a slowdown in both volume and value, the Mediterranean coast and smaller Atlantic ports showed resilience, underscoring the importance of regional management and targeted development strategies. The sector’s performance reflects both vulnerabilities to environmental and operational pressures and opportunities for growth through improved management, sustainable practices, and support for high-performing ports and species.
