Al Hoceima’s coastal and artisanal fishing landings reached an impressive 1,226 tons by the end of May 2024, marking a 5% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest report from the National Fisheries Office (ONP).
The market value of these catches also saw a significant rise, jumping 10% to exceed 73.54 million dirhams (MDH), up from approximately 67.04 MDH at the end of May 2023, the ONP detailed in its recent statistics on coastal and artisanal fishing in Morocco.
When breaking down the data by species, there was a notable 31% drop in pelagic fish landings at this port, totaling 273 tons in the first five months of 2024. The value of these landings decreased by 19% to just over 17.16 MDH, compared to more than 21.23 MDH for 398 tons by May 2023.
Conversely, white fish landings surged by 22% to 151 tons, generating a value of 5.74 MDH, a 21% increase from 4.75 MDH and 123 tons in the previous year.
Cephalopod landings showed significant growth, climbing 29% to 783 tons and bringing in around 48.93 MDH, which represents a 30% increase in value. On the other hand, crustacean landings dropped sharply by 49% to 20 tons, resulting in revenue of over 1.71 MDH, down 49% from the previous year.
Nationally, the landings of marketed products from coastal and artisanal fishing reached 392,692 tons by the end of May 2024, a decrease of 7% compared to the same period the previous year. In terms of value, these landings saw a slight decline of 1%, amounting to more than 4.37 billion dirhams.
This nuanced performance across different species highlights the dynamic nature of the fishing industry in Al Hoceima and across Morocco. While certain segments like pelagic fish are facing challenges, others such as white fish and cephalopods are thriving, reflecting broader trends in market demands and fishing practices.
