فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
RABAT – Morocco is currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis in its fisheries sector, where the prices of sardines, long associated with the nickname “the fish of the poor,” have seen a shocking surge in local markets. This has sparked widespread concern and discontent among citizens who have relied on this basic food staple in their daily diets.
According to field data, the price per kilogram of sardines currently ranges between 25 and 30 dirhams, while prices have reached record highs of up to 60 dirhams in some northern markets of the kingdom. This represents an additional burden on the limited budgets of Moroccan families.
Arabi Mehidi, President of the University of Maritime Fishing Chambers, revealed in an exclusive statement to “Al-Oula” newspaper that this unprecedented price hike is due to declining fish stocks for the second consecutive year, a situation the kingdom has not witnessed in decades.
Mehidi explained that “this decline in stocks is influenced by climate change, primarily the rising temperatures of ocean waters, which has driven sardine schools to migrate towards colder areas outside the Moroccan fishing zone.”
He added that “the price of a box of sardines, weighing about 28 kilograms, ranges between 180 and 200 dirhams in ports, and is only available in some ports like Essaouira and Laayoune, while other markets are experiencing a clear shortage.”
The issue is not limited to declining stocks. Mehidi pointed out that “this decline in supply coincides with ongoing disruptions in the distribution chain, where sardines pass through multiple stages before reaching the consumer. This opens the door for intermediaries and speculators to impose unjustified price increases.”
The President of the University of Maritime Fishing Chambers called for “a reform of the fish marketing system, especially for the most consumed types like sardines, by enhancing control, defining profit margins, expanding storage capacities, and encouraging local cooperatives.”
Mehidi revealed that “there is a dialogue between professionals and the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries to establish new technical regulations that govern fishing and limit the depletion of marine resources.”
This surge in sardine prices comes at a sensitive time, as many citizens are suffering from rising prices of basic food commodities, making the preservation of food security a major challenge for the Moroccan authorities.
Citizens continue to await swift and decisive government intervention to address this crisis and regulate prices, especially since sardines are considered a primary source of protein for low-income families in Morocco.
