Japan provides additional US$3.3M for fishing port development in Safi, Morocco
Investment supports new fishing infrastructure to enhance marine activities in the region.
MOROCCO – The Japanese government has granted Morocco an extra US$3.3 million to support the development of a fishing port in Souiria K’dima, Safi, according to the Japanese Embassy in Morocco.
The contribution was formalized through a diplomatic agreement signed on December 23, 2025, between Onishi Yohei, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Zakia Driouich, Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries at Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Local reports indicate that the funding is part of Japan’s non-reimbursable financial cooperation program, managed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and is aimed at constructing a modern, next-generation fishing port.
With this new allocation, Japan’s total support for the Souiria K’dima port now stands at US$17.2 million, following a previous grant of US$14 million signed in February 2025.
The additional funds are expected to allow the project to complete all planned components, ensuring that the construction and associated facilities are finished as originally designed, according to local media.
The port development project includes the building of a new breakwater, a seawall, a landing quay, an expanded fish handling area, and an extension of the existing breakwater, with construction planned over a period of 43 months.
Once completed, the upgraded port infrastructure will aim to increase the capacity and efficiency of fish landing operations in Souiria K’dima, which is part of Morocco’s wider efforts to modernize its marine sector.
Data from the National Fisheries Office (ONP) shows that the port of Safi handled 51,113 tons of seafood products in 2024, ranking it as the third largest fishing port in Morocco after Sidi Ifni and Tan-Tan.
The overall national catch reached 1.33 million tons in 2024, reflecting a 6 percent increase from the previous year, highlighting the continuing reliance on marine fisheries for the country’s seafood supply.
Morocco’s aquaculture sector also saw significant growth in the first half of 2025, with 183 new farms launched, according to the National Agency for Aquaculture Development (ANDA).
These aquaculture projects attracted combined investments of US$142.6 million and have created more than 2,250 direct jobs, contributing to employment in coastal communities.
Most of the new farms focus on shellfish production, such as oysters and mussels, while seaweed farming accounts for a smaller portion of the initiatives.
Despite this growth, aquaculture remains a relatively small share of the national seafood industry due to structural constraints, including limited hatcheries and high costs of feed, which account for up to 80 percent of operating expenses, according to a World Bank report from September 2025.
Morocco continues to pursue investment and modernization in both fishing and aquaculture sectors as it seeks to improve infrastructure, expand production capacity, and provide economic opportunities along its coastline.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
