Sidi Ifni Launches Africa’s First Deep-Sea Aquaculture Project
Launch of a Pilot Offshore Aquaculture Project in Morocco
On October 30, 2026, Ahmed Mehdi Mezouari, the Minister Delegate for Maritime Fisheries, officially launched a pilot offshore aquaculture project in Sidi Ifni. The event was attended by the provincial governor, elected officials, and numerous stakeholders from the industry.
Developed by the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH), this project is a pioneering initiative on Morocco’s Atlantic coast and across the African continent, with a total investment of 50 million dirhams. Its primary objective is to assess the technical and economic feasibility of fish farming in open marine environments, characterized by particularly challenging weather and hydrodynamic conditions.
This initiative is part of the national mapping of areas suitable for aquaculture, which has identified a production potential exceeding 300,000 tons over an area of 24,000 hectares. Of the 8,000 hectares specifically designated for fish farming, 75% are located off the Atlantic coast.
The project’s funding is sourced from multiple contributions. The department responsible for Maritime Fisheries has allocated 40 million dirhams as part of sector support linked to the fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Union. The INRH has contributed an additional 4 million dirhams from its own resources, while the remaining 6 million dirhams are expected to come from anticipated revenues generated by the marketing of the experimental production.
Located approximately seven nautical miles from the port of Sidi Ifni, the facility encompasses a 25-hectare maritime concession at depths ranging from 40 to 45 meters. It features four floating cages each measuring 29 meters in diameter, with an estimated total annual production capacity of 280 tons, equating to 70 tons per cage.
The system is also equipped with a specialized catamaran named “Aman,” which is dedicated to the maintenance and feeding of the fish. Additionally, a ground-based logistics hub of 800 square meters has been established at the port of Sidi Ifni, providing storage spaces, a scientific laboratory, and administrative offices.
Promising Results After Five Years of Experimentation
The operational launch of this aquaculture farm follows an experimental phase conducted between 2021 and 2026. This phase primarily focused on evaluating the resilience of the floating cages to storms, conducting in-depth oceanographic studies of the site, and completing a full breeding cycle for the yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) from larval stage to market size.
After 16 months of growth, the fish reached an average weight of 400 grams, aligning with the sought-after commercial size. The experimentation also recorded an exceptionally high survival rate, confirming the effectiveness of the system under challenging marine conditions.
The commercialization of the initial production will be managed by a private company selected through a call for interest issued by the INRH. The partnership also includes the management and operation of the farm for the next five years, while keeping its experimental and scientific aims intact.
Through this initiative, Morocco aims to strengthen the ties between public research and the private sector, promote the transfer of scientific advancements to the productive sector, and expand new opportunities for the development of aquaculture and the blue economy.
