Morocco Bans Frozen Sardine Exports

Morocco will suspend exports of frozen sardines from February 1 to protect local supplies and control rising prices, the government has said.

The announcement was made by the minister in charge of fisheries, Zakia Driouich, during a parliamentary session late Tuesday.

Driouich said the decision followed a decline in sardine availability but did not say how long the export ban would remain in place.

Sardines are a key source of affordable protein for many Moroccan households. Morocco is also the world’s largest exporter of sardines, thanks to its long coastlines along the Atlantic and Mediterranean Oceans.

Morocco Bans Frozen Sardine Exports. Credit: Morocco World News

Driouich said pelagic fish species, including sardines, make up about 80% of Morocco’s coastal fish resources, while white fish account for the remaining 20%.

Concerns over falling catches have been growing. In June, the national canned sardine industry group, UNICOP, called on authorities to clamp down on illegal fishing, warning that landings were declining.

Official data show that Morocco’s sardine landings fell by 46% in 2024, dropping to about 525,000 metric tonnes.

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Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.