In an exciting development for the seafood industry, wild salmon harvested from Alaska could soon find its way to Morocco for canning. The American sector is actively seeking Moroccan companies to participate in a pilot program aimed at testing this innovative industrial chain. The National Federation of Fish Processing and Valorization Industries (FENIP) has issued a call for expressions of interest to select Moroccan canneries that are keen to get involved. Initially set for September 23, the deadline for applications has been extended to Monday, September 28.
Leading this initiative is the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), which is responsible for promoting seafood products from the U.S. state of Alaska. Since 2025, ASMI has been exploring the potential for transforming a portion of the Alaskan salmon in Morocco before re-exporting it to markets including the United States and Europe. The selection of Morocco is primarily based on its well-established canning industry. According to ASMI's 2025 international report, the decline in sardine catches has freed up nearly half of the capacities at certain Moroccan facilities. Furthermore, Morocco provides direct access to Western markets and presents a viable alternative to the now more expensive Asian processing centers.
Production Capabilities and Strategic Partnerships
An American mission visited Rabat, Safi, and Casablanca in September 2025, leading ASMI to engage with three Moroccan industrial players: Pelagique Industrie, Midav, and Silver Food. Samples of Alaskan salmon are to be sent to these companies to assess the technical feasibility and cost of production in Morocco. Silver Food exemplifies the available capabilities; its factory near Casablanca can process approximately 100 tons of fish, producing around 600,000 cans daily with a workforce of about 1,000 employees, according to the 2025 ASMI report.
The proposal under consideration with Silver Food involves processing 50 to 75 tons of Alaskan salmon each month. The trials are designed to calculate transformation costs, establish the characteristics of future canned products, and measure their profitability in both American and European markets. The planned supply chain is quite unique: salmon will be caught in Alaska, frozen, and then transported to Morocco. The Moroccan facilities will handle cooking, canning, and packaging before the products are re-exported. According to ASMI, the favorable tariff conditions offered in Morocco could make this arrangement more competitive than processing in China.
FENIP's call for participation is now focused on identifying the companies that will take part in this pilot program. Following the visits and preliminary studies conducted in 2025, this new phase will confront the project with the actual costs and capabilities of Moroccan canneries.
As reported by bladi.net.
