Casablanca – Morocco’s coastal and traditional fishing sector strengthened during the first seven months of 2026, with higher landed volumes and a moderate increase in the commercial value of fishery products, according to official sector data. The recovery comes after a weaker start to the year and has been driven mainly by stronger catches of pelagic fish and continued growth in mollusks.

Coastal and traditional fisheries landed approximately 551,500 metric tons between January and the end of July, representing an increase of 5% compared with the same period of 2025. The value of the products marketed during the period reached about $648 million, an increase of 2% year on year.

The July performance was particularly significant. At the end of June, the value of coastal and traditional fishery landings had stood at around $506 million. The sector therefore generated roughly $141 million in additional value during July alone.

The improvement indicates that the sector gained momentum during the early summer after several categories experienced declines during the first months of the year. Pelagic fisheries, in particular, returned to growth, helping lift total landings despite continued weakness in white fish, seaweed and shellfish.

Morocco’s Atlantic coastline continued to account for the overwhelming majority of fishing activity. Landings from the Atlantic reached around 540,600 metric tons during the first seven months, up 5% from a year earlier. Their value increased by 3% to approximately $603 million.

The Mediterranean showed a different pattern. Landed quantities rose by 8% to approximately 11,000 metric tons, but their commercial value declined by 10% to about $44 million. The contrast suggests that the increase in volume was concentrated in products generating lower average market values.

The structure of catches also explains much of the sector’s overall performance. Pelagic fish accounted for the largest share of landed volumes, reaching approximately 456,192 metric tons, an 11% annual increase. Their value, however, rose by only 1%, indicating that the substantial increase in supply did not produce a similar increase in commercial returns.

Pelagic species are particularly important for Morocco’s domestic seafood market because many are generally more affordable than high-value fish. The category therefore has an important role in maintaining fish availability for consumers, while also supporting fishing communities and related activities such as landing, transport, processing and distribution.

The stronger pelagic performance also helped offset declines elsewhere in the sector. White fish landings dropped by 25% to around 47,124 metric tons, while their value decreased by 8%. The decline represents one of the principal weaknesses in the sector’s current performance and contrasts with the recovery recorded in pelagic fisheries.

Mollusks provided another source of growth. Their landed quantities increased by 11% to 41,243 metric tons, while their value rose by 7%. The stronger increase in value compared with some other categories points to continued demand and relatively favorable pricing. Mollusks therefore remained an important contributor to the sector’s commercial performance despite the uneven results recorded across other species.

Crustaceans remained broadly stable. Their landings increased by 2% to approximately 4,273 metric tons, while their value changed little. The limited movement indicates that the category did not make a major contribution to the overall increase in sector value during the period.

Other segments experienced much sharper contractions. Seaweed landings fell by 62% to around 2,645 metric tons, while their value declined by 65%. Shellfish recorded the most severe deterioration, with quantities falling by 87% and value decreasing by 85%.

These declines illustrate the uneven nature of the recovery. While total landings increased, the improvement was concentrated in a few major categories. The performance of the sector therefore cannot be assessed solely through aggregate figures, as individual fisheries are experiencing significantly different supply and market conditions.

The geographical concentration of activity is another important feature. With more than 540,000 metric tons landed along the Atlantic coast compared with about 11,000 metric tons in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic remains the principal source of Morocco’s coastal and traditional fish production. Its 3% increase in commercial value also made it the main contributor to the national increase.

The figures also highlight the difference between physical production and economic returns. Total landings rose by 5%, while the value of marketed products increased by only 2%. This gap indicates that the additional volume did not result in an equivalent increase in revenue. The same pattern was visible among pelagic fish, where an 11% rise in quantity translated into only a 1% increase in value.

Such differences can be influenced by the composition of catches, market prices, domestic demand, export conditions and the relative share of higher- and lower-value species. A rise in total production can therefore coexist with relatively modest growth in sector revenues.

The July results nevertheless mark an improvement compared with the beginning of 2026. During the first half of the year, several important fisheries had been under pressure, resulting in weaker volumes and lower values. The stronger July figures suggest that seasonal conditions and increased activity in key fisheries helped improve the overall picture.

The recovery also has implications beyond the fishing sector itself. Coastal and traditional fisheries support a broad chain of economic activities, including fishing crews, wholesale markets, transport operators, cold-storage facilities, processors and retailers. Changes in landings can therefore affect employment and income across several coastal communities.

At the consumer level, the increased availability of pelagic fish could provide some support to the domestic supply of relatively affordable seafood. However, the modest increase in their commercial value compared with the much larger rise in volumes suggests that producers may not have benefited proportionally from the increase in catches.

The continued weakness of white fish and shellfish also remains relevant for the diversity and value of Morocco’s seafood production. These categories generally occupy different market segments from pelagic fish, meaning that strong performance in one category cannot fully compensate for sustained declines in another.

Morocco’s fishing industry is also closely linked to the management of marine resources and seasonal fishing conditions. The differences recorded between species underline the importance of monitoring individual fisheries rather than relying exclusively on aggregate production figures.

For the remainder of 2026, the sector’s performance will depend on whether the recovery in pelagic fisheries can continue and whether declining categories stabilize. A sustained improvement across a broader range of species would provide a stronger basis for growth in both production and commercial value.

For now, the first seven months provide evidence of a partial recovery. Coastal and traditional fisheries have increased their landings to approximately 551,500 metric tons, while the value of marketed products has reached about $648 million. The results represent an improvement from the weak start to the year, but the contrasting performance of individual species shows that the recovery remains uneven.

The latest data therefore point to a sector that is regaining activity rather than experiencing uniform growth. Stronger pelagic catches and rising mollusk production have provided the main support, while falling white fish, seaweed and shellfish production continues to weigh on the overall picture. The balance between these categories will be important in determining whether the improvement seen through July develops into a broader recovery during the remainder of the year.