Moroccan Sardine Stocks in Crisis: Industry Calls for Fishing Quotas

The National Union of Fish Canning Industries (UNICOP) has warned that the Moroccan marine resources in the Mediterranean are in a critical situation, calling for the cessation of fishing of sardines to save this threatened and non-reproductive species.

In a statement, the professionals denounced "a pressure on sardine stocks in Morocco that has been going on for years". They also point to "inter-sector competition" and a "structural lack of resources" that are affecting their sector.

These sectors exploit fresh fish, which means that the largest part of the catches will be sold to producers of fish meal for export, the officials deplored.

To solve this situation, Houssine Nibani, president of the Association for Integrated Resource Management (AGIR) recommends that the authorities regulate the sector by guaranteeing a spatio-temporal sustainability of this type of fish.

To this end, he proposed to require a time and quota for fishing boats when sardine shoals are accessible to avoid abuses that are detrimental to the sustainability and potential valorization of the resource. The limits to be imposed must vary according to the conditions of the moment.

When sardines are not available, the fishing time can possibly be increased, recommends Houssine Nibani, who believes that quotas must also be set for the fish meal production sectors.