Morocco signs new fisheries cooperation agreement with Russia

MOROCCO – The government of Morocco has entered into a new maritime fisheries cooperation agreement with Russia, setting the stage for continued fishing operations by Russian vessels in Moroccan Atlantic waters.

The accord was signed in Moscow during the 8th Joint Intergovernmental Commission co-chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev.

Covering a four-year period, the agreement replaces the previous one that expired on December 31, 2024, and establishes the legal terms for Russian vessels’ access to Morocco’s Atlantic zone.

It specifies fishing zones, authorized periods, and catch quotas, as well as guidelines to preserve marine resources and maintain ecological balance.

Regulating fishing and promoting scientific collaboration

According to reports from local media, the new framework aims to regulate fishing activity and prevent overexploitation of marine stocks through stricter oversight of vessel operations.

Both sides have also agreed to expand joint research initiatives between Morocco’s National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH) and its Russian counterpart, with a focus on sustainable management of shared fisheries resources.

While the official catch limits under the new agreement have not been made public, earlier estimates from March suggested that Russia expected an allocation of around 80,000 tons.

Fisheries sector remains key export earner

According to data from the TradeMap platform, Morocco earned nearly US$1.7 billion (US$1.7 billion) from exports of fresh and frozen fish products in 2024.

Spain was the largest buyer, accounting for 54% of total shipments, followed by Italy with 17.4%, Japan with 5.4%, and Ivory Coast and Portugal each with 3.4%.

Other destinations included Ghana at 2.7%, Mali at 1.4%, Greece at 1.2%, and Russia at 1%.

The fisheries industry remains one of Morocco’s leading agri-food export sectors, generating significant income and employment along the country’s Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.

With the renewal of cooperation between Rabat and Moscow, both nations appear to be maintaining a long-standing partnership built around resource access and shared interests in the marine economy.

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