The Moroccan government has inaugurated its first offshore fish farm in Sidi Ifni, a project that marks a significant milestone in the country's efforts to develop its marine fishing sector. The farm, located approximately seven nautical miles from the port of Sidi Ifni, was inaugurated by Ahmed El Mehdi Mezouari, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing and Food Sovereignty, in charge of Maritime Fishing.
The project, led by the National Institute of Halieutic Research (INRH), has a total investment of 50 million dirhams and aims to evaluate the technical and economic conditions of fish farming in an offshore environment. The farm consists of four floating cages, each with a diameter of 29 meters, and has a total annual production capacity of around 280 tonnes.
The farm is situated on a concession of 25 hectares at depths of between 40 and 45 meters and is designed to test the feasibility of offshore fish farming in Morocco. The project is part of the country's efforts to develop its marine fishing sector and to valorize its Atlantic coast.
According to Minister El Mehdi Mezouari, the project is a pioneering experience at the national and continental levels, and its success could open up new perspectives for the development of offshore fish farming in Morocco. He also highlighted the potential of the country's Atlantic coast for fish farming, with around 25,000 hectares available for development.
The director-general of INRH, Mohamed Najih, said that the pilot project had confirmed the feasibility of farming gilthead sea bream in an offshore environment, with yields of 75 to 80 tonnes per cage. He also emphasized the resistance of the floating cages to extreme weather conditions and the resilience of the fish.
The project was developed and implemented by Moroccan experts and was financed by the Ministry of Maritime Fishing, INRH, and the expected revenues from the sale of the experimental fish. The farm's equipment includes a floating barge, a catamaran for maintenance and feeding operations, and a logistical base at the port of Sidi Ifni.
The project's results have confirmed the growth performance of gilthead sea bream in offshore conditions and have consolidated the expertise of INRH's scientific teams. The Moroccan government plans to develop the country's fish farming sector, with a potential production of over 300,000 tonnes on 24,000 hectares.
Key points
- The project has a total investment of 50 million dirhams and an annual production capacity of around 280 tonnes.
- The farm is situated on a concession of 25 hectares at depths of between 40 and 45 meters.
- The project is part of Morocco's efforts to develop its marine fishing sector and valorize its Atlantic coast.
