Russia, Morocco set to renew fisheries agreement amid growing African aquaculture investments

MOROCCO – Russia is set to sign a new four-year fisheries agreement with Morocco, replacing the previous deal that expired in December 2024. 

Ilya Shestakov, head of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency, revealed this development in an interview with Russian news agency Interfax on March 17.

The agreement, which has already been discussed and submitted for government approval, will grant Russian fishing vessels access to Morocco’s exclusive economic zone, allowing them to catch up to 80,000 tons of fish in 2025. 

Target species include sardines, sardinella, mackerel, and anchovies—key resources for both Morocco’s fishing industry and Russia’s seafood supply.

Shestakov also noted that Russian fishing operations extend beyond Morocco, with fleets active in Mauritania’s waters. 

Additionally, he emphasized that Russia’s broader strategy for expanding its fish catch in Africa is linked to the Great African Expedition, a research project launched in August 2024. 

This initiative, which has already assessed fish stocks in Morocco, Mauritania, the Republic of Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, is expected to secure Russia additional fishing rights across the continent.

Growing investments in african aquaculture and fish feed

Morocco is one of the world’s leading seafood producers, ranking 13th globally and first in Africa, according to a 2018 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report. 

The country’s seafood sector employs approximately 700,000 people and contributes 1.5% to Morocco’s GDP. In 2022, seafood exports were valued at US$2.7 billion, further cementing Morocco’s role in global fisheries trade.

While Morocco’s capture fisheries dominate seafood production, aquaculture is steadily expanding, supported by initiatives such as Morocco’s partnership with the European Union to enhance fish farming. 

The country’s seafood processing infrastructure is also robust, featuring 518 onshore processing plants and 311 sea-based freezing units.

Elsewhere in North Africa, Tunisia and Algeria are intensifying efforts to develop their aquaculture sectors. In Tunisia, the government aims to increase aquaculture’s contribution to total fish production from 13% in 2022 to 30% by 2030. 

The sector has seen a surge in investment, with approved aquaculture projects valued at 26 million dinars (US$8.4 million) in 2024 -seven times higher than the previous year. Marine fish farming remains the dominant form of aquaculture in the country, with authorities keen to attract further private sector involvement.

Meanwhile, Algeria is focusing on expanding its fish feed production to support its growing aquaculture ambitions. The Algerian government has announced plans to restart domestic fish feed production from 2025, as part of a broader strategy to boost fish farming. 

The country aims to increase fish production by nearly 60% to reach 200,000 tonnes by 2030, with aquaculture expected to contribute half of this output. 

Recent investments in the sector include an US$8 million aquaculture feed production project by Aqua Continentale and a collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to establish a new fish feed factory in Ouargla.

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