Hommam Al Nassim 
A recent study by the European Parliament’s Directorate General for Internal Policy revealed that Morocco ranks third in the list of countries exporting fish products to the European Union.
The results of the study on the European Parliament website showed that the value of imported fish products and mariculture by European countries increased by 157% between 2008 and 2022, as a result of factors such as inflation, increased shipping costs and fluctuations in the value of the euro.
In terms of imported fish species, salmon came out on top with a value of more than €8.58 billion in 2022, followed by crustaceans with more than €5.6 billion, followed by groundfish and tuna.
The figures show that squid is among the marine products that have been heavily imported by EU countries, with imports from Morocco amounting to more than 21,000 tons worth 1.3 billion euros.
In terms of small pelagic fish, the total imports of the European Union amounted to about 496,000 tons, with sardines and anchovies at the top of the imported species.
The study expressed the concern of EU institutions about the increasing dependence on external imports, noting the need to strengthen coordination between trade and fisheries policies to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector.
The study recommended analysing the economic and social impact of free trade agreements on the fisheries and aquaculture sector, with appropriate preventive measures to address future challenges.
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