Moroccan fisheries production soars by 17% in Q1 2005
Morocco, Economics, 5/12/2005

Morocco's production of inshore and artisanal fisheries soared by 17% with a value estimated at MAD 672.165 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the MAD 576.838 million in the same period of 2004, announced the Moroccan Office of Fisheries (ONP).

ONP said this variation is mainly due to the increase of octopus fisheries notably at Laayoune port (Southern Morocco), though the volume of fisheries handled at the Moroccan ports stagnated at 149,928 tons in Q1 2005 compared to the 150,389 tons in Q1 2004.

The most important Atlantic fisheries ports Tan Tan and La‰youne handled 91,000 tons with a value of MAD 202 million in Q1 2005, while the Mediterranean coast handled 7,130 tons with a value estimated at MAD 55 million.

ONP noted that cephalopods topped the list of national fisheries with 5,000 tons valued at MAD 106 million, i.e. an increase of 40% in Q1 2005 compared to Q1 2004.

Second on the list were pelagic fish (sardines, Indian mackerels, horse mackerels and small tunas) and whitefish that recorded a production of 124,200 tons valued at MAD 220 million in Q1 2005.

The national fisheries production was destined to consumption and canned food that absorbed 63% of this production, then to fish-meal and marine oil that absorbed 31% (47,000 tons), while 6,600 tons went to freezing.

Morocco's average production of fish per annum during the last five years reached 870,000 tons, while in the period 1994-1999 this production achieved only 626,000 tons.

Previous Stories:
  $ 88.2 million investment needed to overhaul Morocco's fisheries sector   (3/18/2005)
  Seven fishing villages to be created in Moroccan Sahara   (3/16/2005)
  Over MAD 3 billion of fisheries production in Morocco in 2004   (3/5/2005)

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