In a significant move towards promoting sustainable fishing practices, Morocco has officially joined the Global Marine Commodities 2 (GMC2) program as of March 10. This initiative, which aims to foster responsible marine supply chains, particularly targets small pelagic fisheries such as sardines and anchovies, essential components of Morocco's fishing industry. The country's sardine landings have experienced a dramatic decline of 46% from 2022 to 2024, underscoring the increasing pressures on fish stocks and the urgent need for sustainable practices.
The GMC2 program is a five-year initiative spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by funding from the Global Environment Facility. It operates in collaboration with five other countries including Mauritania, Senegal, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama. The primary goal of GMC2 is to enhance sustainable marine fisheries and encourage the responsible exploitation of fishery resources among the participating nations. The program leverages the technical expertise of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), an organization dedicated to advancing sustainable fishing practices and developing responsible marine supply chains.
According to the official statement, the GMC2 project seeks to integrate environmental sustainability and social responsibility requirements into marine supply chains, thereby strengthening governance in marine fisheries and elevating the value of products sourced from sustainable practices. In Morocco, the focus is specifically on small pelagic fisheries, with plans to bolster their sustainability and promote the consumption of responsibly sourced products. Furthermore, the initiative aims to enhance the availability and transparency of scientific and technical information regarding fish stock conditions, while also fostering regional cooperation in research and management of shared fish stocks.
This program holds strategic significance as Morocco faces increasing pressure on its marine resources. The National Union of Fish Canning Industries (UNICOP) has raised alarms over the declining fish resources, particularly sardines, which represent 85% of Morocco's small pelagic species. Recent data from the Office National des Pêches highlights a staggering drop in sardine landings from 965,000 tons in 2022 to 525,000 tons in 2024. UNICOP attributes this decline to several factors including the capture of juvenile fish, inadequate measures against illegal fishing, and poorly adapted biological rest periods.
Morocco's involvement in the GMC2 program is part of a broader array of international efforts to strengthen sustainable fisheries management. In February 2025, the Moroccan Confederation of Industrial Pelagic Fishing Shipowners (COMAIP) entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT). This agreement aims to harmonize sustainable fishing practices across the African continent, uniting 21 coastal states. Earlier in 2023, Morocco provided scientific expertise to assess fish stocks in Benin, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire, further demonstrating its commitment to sustainable fisheries through agreements established at the high-level conference of the Blue Belt Initiative.
These initiatives reflect the growing recognition of the vital importance of sustainable fisheries management as pressures on fish stocks continue to mount. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization indicates that Morocco recorded 1.39 million tons of fish catches in 2023, which accounted for 13.2% of Africa's total fish supply of 10.5 million tons that year. The journey towards sustainable fisheries is not just crucial for Morocco but for the future of fisheries resources across the African continent.
As reported by ecofinagency.com.
