In 2021, Moroccan exports of maritime products reached 778 thousand tons, valued at 24.2 billion dirhams (2.5 billion dollars), the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development said on Friday. , Waters and Forests.
With a 15% increase in the value of exports, Morocco reached a new record resulting in a growth in turnover of 53% for frozen cephalopods, 66% for frozen octopus, and 50% for frozen squid. Frozen cephalopods contributed 40% of total seafood export revenue in 2021, while frozen octopus and frozen squid prices increased by 51% and 31%.
While seafood export turnover increased last year, total export volumes fell slightly by 4% over the same period. In 2021, the quantities shipped of frozen octopus and squid increased by 9% and 15%, but the volumes of other seafood products decreased, notably fishmeal (-25%), canned sardines (-18%) and frozen sardines (-14%), noted the ministry. Notably, Morocco’s main fish export remains canned sardines which accounted for 53% of total seafood exports in 2021.
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“This positive assessment was achieved in an unstable context still marked by the Covid-19 health crisis. The maritime fishing sector has thus shown resilience and agility thanks to the continuous coordination and mobilization of all actors,” the ministry commented. The latter also pointed out that this new record is the result of Morocco’s Halieutis strategy.
Launched in September 2009, this plan aimed to build a sustainable, well-equipped, efficient and competitive Moroccan fishing sector by 2020. The Halieutis strategy also set an ambitious target of $3.1 billion in exports of sea products.
