Over 300 aquaculture projects are already planned, with 183 farms in operation backed by 11 private investors

Morocco Struggles to Expand Aquaculture Despite Rising Demand and Vast Untapped Potential

MOROCCO
Monday, October 06, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Moroccan aquaculture production shows modest growth, but bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure, and zoning conflicts hinder its ability to reach an estimated 300,000 tons annually.

Rabat – Despite notable growth over the last decade, Morocco's aquaculture production remains far below its true potential to meet the increasing local and international demand for fish. Official figures reveal that production reached 3,644 tonnes in 2024, a sharp increase compared to less than 500 tonnes recorded in 2013. However, this figure is far from the country's estimated capacity, which could reach 300,000 tonnes annually.

Photo: ANDA

The sector operates under a complex regulatory and institutional framework involving the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA), the Directorate of Maritime Fisheries (DPM), the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). While each entity plays a crucial role in planning, regulation, research, food safety, and financial oversight, coordination challenges have significantly slowed progress.

Fish farming open sea floating cages (Photo: ANDA)

Persistent Administrative and Structural Obstacles

A September 2025 World Bank report, titled "Harnessing Morocco's Coastal Wealth: A Strategic Review of Marine Aquaculture for Job Creation and Sustainable Growth," cites bureaucracy and fragmented decision-making as key barriers to development.

The report notes that investors face considerable delays in securing land and permits due to overlapping mandates among various agencies. Furthermore, zoning conflicts with sectors such as tourism, traditional fishing, and conservation further complicate project approvals. These issues, according to the World Bank, discourage private investment and restrict financing opportunities, thus hindering sector development.

The same World Bank report highlights insufficient infrastructure, with significant gaps in hatcheries, fish feed factories, cold chains, landing sites, and processing facilities. All these shortcomings limit the production capacity and efficiency of Moroccan aquaculture.

Shellfish farming (Photo: ANDA)

Areas for Reform and Investment Opportunities

To address these problems, the World Bank recommends a series of crucial reforms: simplifying regulations, digitizing permit processes, and strengthening regional institutions to more effectively support local projects.

It also proposes the introduction of new financial tools, such as specific investment funds for aquaculture, carbon and nitrogen credits, blue bonds, and other forms of "blue finance" to attract greater private capital participation.

Another major challenge is the cost of feed, which can represent up to 80% of aquaculture expenses. The World Bank urges the promotion of domestic production of high-quality feed and an update of regulations to allow for alternative and more sustainable protein sources, such as processed animal protein and insect meal (including black soldier fly products).

Additionally, the establishment of public-private partnerships is encouraged to reduce reliance on government-led investment and diversify funding sources.

Algae farming (Photo: ANDA)

A Sector Under Fishing Pressure and Growing Demand

The urgency to expand aquaculture is heightened by the decline in fish stocks in Morocco, particularly sardines, which constitute the majority of small pelagic catches. The National Union of Fish Canning Industries (UNICOP) reported a 46% fall in sardine landings between 2022 and 2024, dropping from 965,000 tonnes to 525,000 tonnes, with overfishing and illegal practices cited as primary causes.

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Meanwhile, seafood demand is projected to rise. The World Bank estimates that the Moroccan market will reach US$1.07 billion in 2025, with an annual growth of 6.3% through 2030. Currently, traditional fishing supplies almost all local consumption, raising concerns about sustainability if aquaculture remains limited.

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Despite the challenges, over 300 aquaculture projects are already planned, with 183 farms in operation backed by 11 private investors. These farms are expected to produce over 70,000 tonnes annually and create about 5,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs. However, this contribution still falls far short of national capacity and the true potential to meet a constantly growing demand.

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