Russia Eyes 100,000-Tonne Fishing Catch in Moroccan Waters
A Russian research vessel has set out from Casablanca on a 45-day mission to assess Morocco’s fish stocks. The findings from the campaign, carried out with two researchers from the Kingdom, will help determine future fishing volumes.
Russia is considering increasing its annual catches in Moroccan waters to 100,000 tonnes, up from a quota of 54,000 tonnes in 2026. The prospect of an 85% increase was confirmed on Wednesday, October 28, by the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.
Russian vessels mainly catch sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel and anchovies in Morocco’s Atlantic zone. Moscow has made the proposed increase conditional on improved fishing conditions. The 100,000-tonne figure therefore remains a target, not a new quota granted by Rabat.
The ambition is part of a cooperation agreement signed by the two countries on October 17, 2025. At the time, Russian officials had already spoken of increasing catches to 90,000 to 100,000 tonnes a year.
Russia has even received higher quotas in the past. In 2022, ten Russian vessels were authorized to catch up to 140,000 tonnes of fish a year in Moroccan waters, according to the provisions reported at the time.
The cooperation also brings benefits for Moroccan employment. According to Russian authorities, Moroccan sailors have traditionally made up around 10% of the crews of Russian fishing vessels operating in the area. The catches are destined for processing in Russia and for African markets.
Russian vessel surveys Morocco’s fish stocks
Since October 26, the research vessel Atlantida has been conducting a new research campaign in Morocco’s Atlantic waters. The expedition plans 145 trawling operations and sampling at around 80 sites, selected with Moroccan authorities.
According to an official Russian statement, the crew consists of 40 Russians, including twelve scientific specialists, as well as two Moroccan researchers. The work is expected in particular to assess populations of juvenile sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel and anchovies.
This cooperation continues as the European Union seeks to restart its own fishing negotiations with Morocco, after the previous agreement expired in July 2023.
On Bladi.net : The European Union wants to relaunch the fisheries agreement with Morocco
The data collected by the Atlantida will be submitted to the Russian-Moroccan Joint Fisheries Commission. The body uses scientific assessments to set future catch volumes authorized for the fleets concerned.
