The Secretary of State in charge of Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Deriouiche, revealed the results of the government's measures and initiatives taken to support the traditional fishing sector, in response to a written question about the deterioration of the social situation of traditional fishermen due to the rise in fuel costs, submitted by MP Moulay El Mehdi El Fatimi from the Socialist Group – Federal Opposition.
The government official affirmed that traditional fishing is of great importance in terms of employment and social development, pointing to its contribution of about 22 percent of the total value of national production, equivalent to 3.42 billion dirhams in 2025, recording an increase of 66 percent compared to 2020. The Secretary of State clarified that the annual average of the turnover of active boats has witnessed a remarkable development, as it has more than tripled, from about 68 thousand dirhams in 2010 to 210 thousand dirhams in 2025, in addition to this sector providing more than 60 thousand direct jobs. Deriouiche attributed these positive results to the direct and indirect support that the sector has benefited from since the launch of the "Halieutis" strategy, whether at the level of sustainability, infrastructure, social and logistical support. Regarding the field of sustainability, the government official highlighted that 30 fisheries development plans have been adopted with the aim of ensuring the continuity of fishing activities, in addition to establishing 8 reserves dedicated to the development of sustainable traditional fishing, with the programming of the establishment of two additional reserves under study. As for the infrastructure level, 42 fishing villages and equipped unloading points have been completed, in addition to 9 other projects under construction, which have economic, social and administrative facilities, currently contributing about 67 percent of the turnover of traditional fishing. Within the framework of direct support, 22 traditional fishing cooperatives were supported with logistical equipment, including tractors and engines, with a financial envelope of 24.74 million dirhams, in addition to supporting the fleet with insulated boxes with a total of 93.5 million dirhams, and equipping traditional fishing boats in the southern regions with satellite distress transmission devices at a cost of 20.6 million dirhams, with work on generalizing this support in the future. It is also expected to support this fleet with new generation life jackets with a financial envelope of approximately 69.5 million dirhams. Regarding the prices of fuels directed to the maritime fishing sector, the Secretary of State clarified that these materials are exempt from duties and fees, under Decree No. 2-85-890 issued on December 31, 1985, confirming that the prices of gasoline allocated to traditional fishing have recently witnessed a decline and stability compared to previous years, as its price during the years 2022 and 2023 reached about 13.62 dirhams per liter in some ports, and currently stabilized at around 9 dirhams.
