Morocco is looking to expand its aquaculture sector as a means to drive economic growth and job creation. The country currently produces 3,600 tons of aquaculture products annually, but aims to increase this figure significantly in the coming years. With public and private investment, Morocco has set a target of reaching 300,000 tons of production and creating 30,000 jobs within the next decade.
The industry already includes various species such as fish, clams, mussels, oysters, seaweed, and shrimp. There are new opportunities emerging in seaweed farming and shellfish cultivation. Morocco has identified suitable zones for aquaculture development and established a regulatory framework to support the sector. Currently, there are 322 licensed farms with a combined annual output goal of over 124,000 tons.
Domestic demand for seafood is rising due to population growth and increased awareness of health benefits associated with seafood consumption. Investment opportunities in Moroccan aquaculture are expected to surpass $1 billion this year. The expansion of the sector is also seen as a way to reduce reliance on seafood imports and stabilize local supply.
Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, World Bank Division Director for Maghreb and Malta, stated: "The World Bank Group stands ready to support the Kingdom of Morocco and the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture in advancing aquaculture as a national priority. We support streamlining regulations, reducing investment risks, and mobilizing financing —leveraging the International Finance Corporation’s leadership to boost private sector participation in this promising sector."
The World Bank is supporting Morocco's efforts through several initiatives. These include a $350 million Program for Results aimed at building a climate-resilient Blue Economy and an additional $5 million grant from the PROBLUE Multi-Donor Trust Fund. Early outcomes include improved management of marine resources, restoration projects along coastal areas, and enhanced protection against flooding and erosion.
Technical assistance is being provided through Phase II of the North Africa Blue Economy Program. This effort focuses on strengthening sustainable aquaculture practices by offering analytical support, training on shrimp farming methods, site selection strategies for new farms, and guidance on developing seaweed farming.
Pilot projects have demonstrated scalable models in shrimp and seaweed farming that contribute to climate resilience within Morocco's aquaculture value chains. The Country Private Sector Diagnostic—a joint analysis by the World Bank Group led by IFC—is evaluating investment prospects as well as challenges facing private sector involvement in marine aquaculture.
One example highlighted is VitaminSea Morocco, which produces about 60 tons of shrimp annually for local markets. Driss Krafess, Co-founder of VitaminSea Morocco said: "At VitaminSea Morocco, we currently produce around 60 tons of shrimp annually, entirely for local consumption. With the right investment, we can scale up fivefold to 300 tons per year. While we are still importing larvae from the United States, our goal is to establish a full local production unit and position our company as a competitive player in regional and global shrimp markets."
Globally in 2022 marine and coastal aquaculture reached 71 million tons; while Morocco’s current ambitions are smaller by comparison they reflect an intent to access this expanding market.
Seaweed farming has become central to Morocco’s focus on bio-innovation because it serves multiple industries including food processing, cosmetics manufacturing, fertilizer production as well as pharmaceuticals and textiles.
SETEXAM—a family business specializing in seaweed—has benefited from World Bank-supported programs too. Rachid Lebar Director at SETEXAM commented: "We are building on the lessons learned since 1960 and experimenting with e-commerce to widen our market. With the right investment we can scale up production and fully unlock the potential of Morocco’s marine resources."
Despite clear potential there remain obstacles such as limited hatchery capacity feed mills cold storage facilities or processing infrastructure but ongoing reforms aim at addressing these issues.
With sustained commitment from both government agencies international partners like The World Bank—and private investors—Morocco hopes its Blue Economy will generate employment strengthen exports while protecting ocean ecosystems for future generations.