Russia targets 100,000 tonnes of fish in Morocco
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Bladi
Russia wants to raise its fish catches in Moroccan waters to 100,000 tonnes a year, from a quota of 54,000 tonnes in 2026. The target will depend on the results of a 45-day scientific survey and improved fishing conditions, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries.
The Russian research vessel Atlantida began a 45-day survey on 26 October in Morocco’s Atlantic waters to assess fish stocks. Moscow ultimately aims for annual catches of 100,000 tonnes, compared with a quota of 54,000 tonnes in 2026, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, which confirmed this target on Wednesday 28 October at the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. This 85% increase remains conditional on improved fishing conditions and does not constitute a quota granted by Rabat.
The survey includes 145 trawling operations and samples from around 80 sites selected with the Moroccan authorities. The crew comprises 40 Russians, including 12 scientific specialists, and two Moroccan researchers, according to an official Russian statement. The work focuses in particular on young sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel and anchovies.
The fisheries cooperation agreement concluded by Morocco and Russia on 17 October 2025 had already referred to catches that could reach 90,000 to 100,000 tonnes a year. In 2022, 10 Russian vessels were authorised to catch up to 140,000 tonnes annually in Moroccan waters. Moroccan sailors account for about 10% of the crews of Russian vessels operating in the area, according to Russian authorities; the catches are intended to be processed in Russia and sold on African markets.
The survey comes as the European Union seeks to revive its fisheries negotiations with Morocco after its previous agreement expired. On 25 October, the Moroccan Navy expelled Senegalese and Mauritanian fishing boats from Lagouira, in another development linked to fishing activities in Moroccan waters.
