Morocco wants to double the value of seafood exports by 2020
Halieutis is the name of the national plan that could double Moroccan seafood exports in the next three years. The African country is the biggest maritime fisheries producer from the continent and 17th largest producer in the world with an annual production of 1.5 MT.
Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium are the top importers of Moroccan seafood and the officials from Rabat want to increase production by building new aquaculture facilities on both Atlantic and Mediterranean waters.
In 2015, the fisheries sector exported products worth $1.59 billion (EUR 1.29 billion) but the value could reach up to $3.1 billion by 2020 under the Halieutis plan. Moroccan aquaculture started back in the '50's with sea bass, sea bream and shrimp farms developed in the Mediterranean and the cultivation of these species is expected to grow alongside shellfish such as oysters, mussels, abalone, and clams.
A first commercial shellfish hatchery and farm included in the Halieutis plan was opened in 2016 and others are expected to rise in the next years as Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is currently working with National Agency for Aquaculture Development (ANDA) to help the African country to transform its plans into reality.
"The work in which we are partnering with Morocco will help to ensure that aquaculture develops in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner", declared Malcolm Beveridge, Head of FAO’s Aquaculture Branch within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, quoted by Seafood Source magazine. ANDA has already chosen five areas were intends to develop new aquacultural facilities. At this point, the fishing industry accounts for 58% of agricultural exports of Morocco and 7% of its total exports. Also, the industry contributes 2.3% to the country's GDP.
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