Tunisia is preparing to host a team of experts from the European Union's Food and Veterinary Office (OAV) in November 2026. The visit aims to evaluate the country's aquaculture sector, particularly its health and technical standards. To ensure a successful visit, the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries has put in place a follow-up and health monitoring program for aquaculture products.
The visit by OAV experts is crucial for Tunisia's aquaculture sector, as the European market accounts for around 50% of the country's total aquaculture exports. A successful visit will help maintain the health certification of Tunisian institutions eligible to export to the European market. To prepare for the visit, a working session was held with the Joint Professional Association for Marine Fishing Products.
The working session focused on the readiness of Tunisian aquaculture institutions to meet the required health and technical standards. The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Association's program to establish the "ASC" global sustainability and quality label. This label is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Tunisian products and open up new markets with high added value.
The ASC label program was developed in partnership with the Swiss SIPPO project, taking into account the updated technical, health, and environmental requirements set by the label's governing organization in 2025. The meeting also emphasized the need to organize an information day for aquaculture product exporters to raise awareness about the ASC label and its requirements.
The aquaculture sector in Tunisia faces several challenges, and the meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss potential solutions. The sector's exports have shown a positive trend, with a 2.9% increase in quantity and 1.9% increase in value during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
In the first half of 2026, Tunisian aquaculture exports reached 14,000 tons worth 329 million dinars, compared to 13.6 thousand tons worth 323 million dinars in the same period of 2025. The main exported products were fish, followed by canned and semi-canned products, and crustaceans. Italy, Spain, Libya, and Algeria were the top destinations for these exports.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of continued coordination among stakeholders to ensure the sector's readiness for the upcoming EU visit and to maintain access to international markets for Tunisian aquaculture products.
Key points
- The EU visit will assess Tunisia's aquaculture sector's health and technical standards.
- The sector's exports have shown a positive trend, with a 2.9% increase in quantity and 1.9% increase in value during the first half of 2026.
- The ASC label program aims to enhance the competitiveness of Tunisian products and open up new markets with high added value.
