Morocco has announced a ban on the export of frozen sardines, effective February 1st. The decision was made by the Secretary of State for Maritime Fishing, Zakia Driush, to protect the local supply and contain prices. This measure comes after a noticeable decrease in the availability of sardines in the domestic market. However, the minister did not specify the duration of the ban. Sardine is a staple food for Moroccan families, and the country is the world's largest producer of sardines, thanks to its long Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. The National Union of Canned Fish Industries had called for such a decision back in June. It is noted that surface-dwelling fish species, like sardines, account for about 80% of Morocco's coastal fish resources, while white fish make up the remaining 20%.
