Morocco produced 930,000 tons of fisheries, worth us$ 600 mln in 2003
Morocco, Economics, 1/31/2004

Morocco's fisheries minister, Taieb Rhafes announced on Friday that Morocco's fisheries production reached 930,000 tons in 2003, for a value of 5.3 billion DH (US$ 600 million).

The official told a press conference that production of shellfish and demersal fish species that live on or near the ocean bottom has grown respectively by 74% and 18% compared to 2002. Quantities processed by industrial plants reached 300,000 tons, which is a finished production of 135,000 tons that yielded sales of 2.8 billion DH (US$ 318 million), including 17% that were exported.

The fresh-fish conditioning industry also posted a slight improvement of its activities in 2003 as the quantities of processed fish were estimated at 36,000 tons, marking a 3% growth compared to 2002, and yielding an export sales of 1.45 billion DH (US$ 164.7 million) which is an 11% improvement compared to 2002.

Meanwhile, said the minister, the sector of cephalopods suffered a sharp drop of 50%, as a result of the worrying situation of octopus and the over-exploitation of this species.

To a question on fishermen's threat to go on strike to protest the ministry's decision to proclaim a biological rest, the minister said his department will authorize high-sea fishing vessels to fish octopus in order to help these fishermen. He added that a meeting with unions is slated for Saturday to examine the professionals' grievances.

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