Sardine Crisis: Soaring Prices Push “Poor Man’s Fish” Out of Reach in Morocco
Morocco’s Sardine Crisis: When the “Poor Man’s Fish” Becomes a Luxury
Soaring prices are pushing a staple food out of reach for many Moroccans.
Sardines, once a reliable source of protein for people of all income levels in Morocco, are becoming increasingly expensive. The cost of this “poor man’s fish” has skyrocketed, with prices nearly doubling in some areas. A box of sardines that once sold for 50 dirhams can now fetch up to 350 dirhams, putting a strain on household budgets already stretched thin by rising food costs.
This crisis is driven by a perfect storm of factors. Declining fish stocks, fueled by overfishing and climate change, have collided with a steady demand from Moroccan consumers.
“The fishing industry in Morocco has never reached such a critical stage,” warns Abdelkader Touirbi, National Secretary of the National Union of Seafarers and Fishing Masters. He points to climate change as a major culprit, particularly impacting coastal regions like El Jadida, Safi, and Essaouira.
Touirbi also criticizes the lack of respect for biological rest periods, crucial for fish populations to replenish. He argues that the government has failed to implement effective strategies to mitigate these challenges, despite repeated promises.
“All the plans that the government has tried to implement have completely failed, in fact, they have made things worse,” Touirbi states, highlighting the lack of monitoring and compensation for professionals during biological rest periods. He also criticizes the government’s failure to conduct market research to understand domestic consumption patterns and preferences.
Mohammed Naji, President of the Moroccan Association of Fisheries Engineers, echoes these concerns.
