Marrakech Snail Vendors Face Crisis as Traditional Trade Struggles

Scarcity of snails on the national market, market fluctuations, increase in unregulated activities of certain investors, decrease in demand for snails during the summer months, excessive proliferation of informal carts selling snails around the square and in several neighborhoods of the city... Several snail vendors on Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech are facing major difficulties threatening its continuity. They are calling on the authorities to intervene in order to allow them to engage in an activity parallel to the sale of snails, without abandoning it. This single activity is no longer enough and proves incapable of keeping up with the pace, meeting the needs and ensuring a comfortable season, they stressed.

The sale of snails is not just a commercial activity, but a cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation, explained the professionals in a statement to Kech24. They are convinced that adding a parallel activity would play a crucial role in supporting the sustainability of this sector and protecting it against market fluctuations, which could lead to a drop in demand or a supply shortage in case of a shortage of available snails. These complementary activities would constitute a bulwark protecting this field from future decline, provided that adequate solutions are provided, the professionals believe.

The snail vendors on Jemaa el-Fna square also highlighted the importance of this activity as a source of income for many Marrakech families. Each snail selling season on Jemaa el-Fna square generates income to support the needs of five to six families. They also denounced the excessive proliferation of informal carts operating without legal authorization or control around the square and in several neighborhoods of the city, allowing them to operate without paying the taxes or fees imposed on commercial activities. According to them, this illegal activity leads to a disorganized increase in the demand for snails, contributing to the soaring prices, which have reached a record level of 60 dirhams per kilogram.

Based on these findings, the professionals call on the competent authorities to organize this commercial activity and protect the regular vendors of Jemaa el-Fna square, by establishing a legal framework governing the activity of mobile carts or by proposing strategic solutions to diversify commercial activities.