Morocco sees significant decline in fish landings at Tan-Tan port

MOROCCO – The port of Tan-Tan saw a dramatic 48% reduction in fish landings by the end of June 2024, as reported by the National Office of Fisheries (ONP).

The latest ONP report on Morocco’s coastal and artisanal fishing sector indicates a sharp decline in fish landings in the first half of 2024, with only 14,890 tonnes landed, compared to 28,567 tonnes in the same period of 2023.

Additionally, the financial value of these landings plummeted by 24%, falling to MAD 307.67 million (US$31.4 million) from MAD 404.27 million (US$41.3 million) recorded by June 2023.

Pelagic fish landings at Tan-Tan experienced a significant 63% drop in quantity, amounting to just 7,351 tonnes in the first half of the year. 

The financial value of these landings also fell by 57% to MAD 39.89 million (US$4.7 million), down from MAD 92.37 million (US$9.4 million) for 20,132 tonnes during the same period in the previous year.

Whitefish landings also declined by 14%, totaling 5,136 tonnes valued at MAD 106.87 million (US$11 million) by the end of June, compared to last year. 

Similarly, mollusk landings saw a 4% decrease, amounting to 2,282 tonnes with a financial value of MAD 155.75 million (US$15.9 million), reflecting a 15% decrease.

However, crustacean landings at the port increased by 26%, reaching 121 tonnes valued at MAD 5.16 million (US$527 million).

Nationally, coastal and artisanal fish landings amounted to 469,715 tonnes by the end of June 2024, showing a 10% decrease compared to the previous year. In financial terms, this represented a 4% decline, totaling over MAD 4.8 billion (US$490 billion).

The port of Laayoune also experienced a 46% decrease in fish landings, totaling 53,024 tonnes by the end of May 2024, compared to the same period last year. 

The market value of these catches dropped by 17%, amounting to MAD 671.69 million (US$68.7 million), down from MAD 808.49 million (US$82.6 million) by May 2023.

Overall, coastal and artisanal fishing products saw a 1% decrease in value, totaling MAD 4.37 billion (US$447 billion) over the first five months of 2024, with the weight of these products reaching 392,692 tonnes, marking a 7% decline compared to May 2023.

Declines were observed across various species, with shellfish, seaweed, crustaceans, and pelagic fish landings dropping by 77% to 21 tonnes, 39% to 4,974 tonnes, 26% to 3,306 tonnes, and 9% to 312,920 tonnes, respectively.

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