Morocco to halt frozen sardine exports from February 1 amid supply strain
The decision comes alongside continued foreign-backed investment in fishing infrastructure.
MOROCCO – Morocco will suspend exports of frozen sardines starting February 1, following an announcement made by Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries Zakia Driouich, with authorities yet to clarify how long the restriction will remain in place.
The measure is intended to redirect supplies to the domestic market and curb price increases, particularly ahead of Ramadan when demand for sardines typically rises, according to the fisheries department.
Sardines account for about 85 percent of Morocco’s small pelagic catch, yet landings have declined steeply in recent years as pressure on stocks has grown due to overfishing, environmental stress, and rising local consumption.
Data from the National Fisheries Office shows that sardine landings fell by 46 percent between 2022 and 2024, dropping from about 965,000 tonnes to roughly 525,000 tonnes, a contraction that has intensified competition for supply.
As a result, several regions experienced repeated price spikes in 2025, with traders and processors competing for smaller volumes of fish at landing sites and wholesale markets.
Balancing local demand and export interests
Industry analysts say the export ban highlights the challenge facing Moroccan authorities as they try to secure affordable fish for local consumers while also supporting an export-oriented processing sector.
Morocco remains the world’s largest producer and exporter of canned sardines, shipping close to 15,000 tonnes annually to destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, making any trade_toggle sensitive for processors.
Earlier, in June 2025, the National Union of Fish Canning Industries called for tighter port inspections, stronger enforcement against illegal fishing, a ban on catching juvenile fish, and stricter compliance with biological rest periods to slow stock depletion.
Infrastructure investment continues
The export decision follows a separate development in which Japan agreed to provide Morocco with an additional US$3.3 million to support construction of a fishing port in Souiria K’dima, near Safi.
The grant was formalized through an agreement signed on December 23, 2025, between Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Onishi Yohei and Zakia Driouich.
The funding, delivered through Japan’s non-reimbursable cooperation program overseen by JICA, raises total Japanese support for the project to about US$17.2 million, including a previous US$14 million allocation agreed in February 2025.
The project covers construction of a breakwater, seawall, landing quay, expanded fish handling facilities, and an extension of the existing breakwater, with work scheduled over 43 months.
According to the National Fisheries Office, the port of Safi handled 51,113 tonnes of seafood in 2024, ranking third nationally after Sidi Ifni and Tan-Tan, and the upgraded infrastructure is expected to increase landing capacity once completed.
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