Morocco will suspend frozen sardine exports from February 1 to safeguard local supply and stabilize prices amid a sharp decline in catches. The move comes as the country faces a 46% drop in sardine landings in 2024.

Morocco to ban frozen sardine exports from February

January 7, 2026

Reuters

A person buys fruits during rainy and cold weather in the Moroccan city of Fes, January 5, 2026.

Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Morocco will halt exports of frozen sardines from February 1 to protect domestic supplies and contain prices, the cabinet member in charge of fisheries, Zakia Driouich, said.

Sardines are a staple for Moroccan households, and the country is the world's top exporter of the fish, thanks to its long Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.

The decision was triggered by a noticeable drop in supply, Driouich told members of parliament late on Tuesday, without specifying how long the ban would last.

Pelagic species such as sardines account for around 80% of Morocco's coastal fish resources, compared with 20% for white fish, she said.

The national canned‑sardine industry (UNICOP) urged authorities in June to act against illegal fishing after reporting falling catches.

Morocco's sardine landings dropped 46% in 2024 to 525,000 metric tons, according to official data.

-Ahmed Eljechtimi/Reuters