Sardine prices in Morocco have soared to an unprecedented MAD 30 per kilogram in recent days, impacting consumers’ purchasing power across the country, and driven primarily by the limited supply of sardines, Mohamed Al Moden, the President of the General Federation of Fishery Product Traders’ Associations, said.
Overfishing is contributing to about 60% of the problem, according to Al Moden, while environmental and climate issues account for the other 40%. He lamented the significant reduction in sardine supplies caused by fishing activities in previous years that went unregulated.
The situation worsened under the previous Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which imposed constraints on fishing policies without addressing the core issues.
The ministry’s current leadership, however, led by a Secretary of State with ministerial authority, has implemented stricter policies to preserve fish stocks, particularly sardines.
Recent ministry decisions include scientifically grounded and legally binding measures, such as halting sardine fishing in certain areas for one and a half to two months at a time and imposing a year-long fishing ban in southern regions.
Although these measures are intended to restore fish populations, they have also reduced the present supply, pushing up prices in the markets.
Al Moden suggested that retail sector price gouging has further exacerbated the price increase. While wholesale sardine prices at ports and markets are typically around MAD 20 per kilogram, the exploitation of current market conditions by some retailers has driven prices up another 33% to MAD 30 per kilogram.