Alaska salmon could soon be canned in Morocco under U.S. pilot program
Wild salmon caught in Alaska could soon be shipped to Morocco for canning. The U.S. industry is seeking Moroccan companies to take part in a pilot program to test this new industrial supply chain.
The National Federation of Seafood Processing and Valorization Industries (FENIP) has issued a call for expressions of interest to select interested Moroccan canneries. The application deadline, initially set for September 23, has been extended to Monday, September 28.
On Bladi.net : Sardines Overtake Salmon in the United States, Morocco Could Reap the Rewards
Behind the project is the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), which promotes seafood from the U.S. state. Since 2025, the organization has been studying the possibility of having some of the salmon caught in Alaska processed in Morocco before being re-exported, notably to the United States and Europe.
The choice of the kingdom is based primarily on its canning industry. In its 2025 international report, ASMI estimates that declining sardine catches have freed up nearly half the capacity at some Moroccan facilities. Morocco also offers direct access to Western markets and an alternative to Asian processing centers, which have become more expensive.
A plant capable of producing 600,000 cans a day
A U.S. delegation visited Rabat, Safi and Casablanca in September 2025. The efforts brought ASMI to three Moroccan companies: Pelagique Industrie, Midav and Silver Food. Samples of salmon were to be sent to them to assess the technical feasibility and cost of production in Morocco.
Silver Food offers an indication of the capacity available. Its plant near Casablanca can process about 100 tonnes of fish and produce around 600,000 cans a day, with a workforce of about 1,000, according to ASMI’s 2025 report.
The scenario being considered with the company involved 50 to 75 tonnes of Alaska salmon per month. The trials were intended to calculate processing costs, establish specifications for the future canned products and assess their profitability in the U.S. and European markets.
The proposed route is unusual: the salmon would be caught in Alaska, frozen and then transported to Morocco. Moroccan plants would handle the cooking, canning and packaging before the products were re-exported. According to ASMI, the tariff terms offered by Morocco could make this arrangement more competitive than processing in China.
On Bladi.net : Moroccan Sardines Spain Export Suspension Negotiations
FENIP’s call is now expected to identify the companies that will take part in the pilot program. Following the visits and preliminary studies in 2025, this new phase will test the project against the actual costs and capacity of Moroccan canneries.
