Al Hoceima fish landings fall 16% in first five months of 2026

Fish landings at the port of Al Hoceima recorded a 16% decline during the first five months of 2026, reaching 996 tons by the end of May. The drop was accompanied by an 18% decrease in market value, which fell to MAD 57.27 million compared with MAD 69.55 million in the same period of 2025, according to data from the national fisheries office.

overall decline in coastal and artisanal fishing

The total volume of coastal and artisanal fishing products landed in Al Hoceima stood at 996 tons, reflecting a clear contraction compared with the previous year. The overall performance also showed weaker market returns across most categories, signaling a broader slowdown in local fishing activity.

pelagic fish under pressure

Pelagic fish recorded one of the sharpest declines, with landings falling 19% to 136 tons. Their value also dropped by 18% to MAD 7.25 million, compared with MAD 8.82 million a year earlier. This category continues to show sensitivity to changing catch conditions and market dynamics.

mixed performance in other segments

White fish landings decreased by 8% to 130 tons, although their market value rose slightly by 1% to more than MAD 5.41 million. Cephalopods, which represent the largest share of Al Hoceima’s fishing activity, fell by 18% to 697 tons, with revenues declining by 21% to MAD 42.23 million.

In contrast, crustaceans showed strong growth. Landings increased by 46% to 34 tons, generating more than MAD 2.37 million in revenue, up 22% compared with the same period in 2025.

national fishing trends also decline

At the national level, Morocco’s coastal and artisanal fishery products reached 264,418 tons by the end of May 2026, marking an 18% year-on-year decline. Despite lower volumes, the sector generated nearly MAD 4.4 billion in revenue, a slight decrease of 1%, reflecting uneven performance across different fish categories.