Morocco unveils nationwide digital platform for maritime fisheries
Morocco has launched an international tender for a large-scale digital governance system aimed at modernising its fisheries sector and strengthening compliance with international export regulations, as reported by government friendly The North Africa Post and agencies on May 12th.
The initiative, announced by the State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries and reported by local newspaper Le Matin, will introduce a unified digital platform covering the entire fisheries supply chain — from vessel departures and catch declarations to export certification.
The project is considered Morocco’s most significant fisheries reform since the launch of the national Halieutis strategy in 2009. Authorities say the move responds to tighter domestic regulations, new European Union import requirements, and international fisheries management obligations.
The system will be built around two connected platforms. The first will manage fisheries information, catch certification, and product traceability, processing roughly 700,000 catch declarations and 33,000 certificates annually. The second will focus on vessel monitoring through satellite surveillance and electronic logbook technology.
Together, the platforms will connect Morocco’s fishing industry, including more than 2,600 coastal and deep-sea vessels as well as approximately 17,000 traditional fishing boats, with ports, export authorities, and state institutions.
The European Union remains Morocco’s main fisheries export market, making compliance with updated EU certification standards a major priority. The bloc recently strengthened requirements related to fishing zones, transhipment operations, and seafood traceability, while also requiring importers to use certified electronic systems.
Moroccan authorities say the monitoring system will also help tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing through real-time tracking, automated alerts, and continuous fleet supervision. The platform is expected to integrate with both European control systems and Moroccan institutions, including Customs and the National Institute for Fisheries Research.
Officials added that all software, technical documentation, and source codes developed under the project will become state property, allowing Morocco to independently maintain and expand the system in the future.
The project forms part of Morocco’s broader ambition to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable fisheries governance and maritime sector modernisation.
The North Africa Post and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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