Morocco's new fisheries strategy will enable a 2 million tons annual production by 2007, including 15,000 tons in aquaculture, with a rise in fish exports that can reach 200 billion dirhams (USD 22.2 billion).

Through this policy, the fisheries department aims to create 90,000 direct and indirect jobs and ensuring food security by encouraging local consumption of fish, so that it reaches 14 kg per individual by 2007 (from an aveage 7 kg/per person presently), the ministry said in a release. The new policy, which includes revision of the legal, institutional and organizational frameworks, introduces a new exploitation concept based on precise scientific data. According to the document, investments worth 20 billion dirham (USD 2.2 billion) were made in the sector by the department or the private sector.
The release said the 2003 production will be close to that of 2002, i.e. 930,000 tons for a 5.3 billion DH (USD 580 million) value.