Returns of Morocco's sea products exports increased by 10 % in 1998

Sea product exports have earned Morocco 7.4 billion dirhams in 1998, recording an increase of 10 % over the previous year.

The jump was possible thanks to the increase of frozen goods exports which went up from 93,000 tons to nearly 120,000 tons, director of maritime fisheries industries, Ahmed Fassi Fihri, said on Friday.

Fassi Fihri, who was presenting to reporters the balance sheet of the fisheries industry in 1998, said the volume of canned fish exports remained almost the same as the previous year with 52,000 tons, while their value increased by about 10 percent thanks to the increase of canned sardines price on the European Union markets.

With national territorial waters extending over 1.2 million KM2 and with a 3,500 km long sea coast, Morocco has huge sea resources and harbors over 840 fish species.

In 1997, the sector posted a production of 782,000 tons worth 5 billion dirhams (about $500 million), and exports earned the country $700 million. The sector provides direct jobs to 400,000 persons.