Fes to Launch a New Wholesale Fish Market
The city of Fes is preparing for the inauguration of a new wholesale fish market in the Bensouda area, scheduled for October. This initiative aims to reorganize the marketing channels for seafood products and combat the unregulated practices that have long affected market transparency and the quality of consumable products. The project represents a significant institutional partnership between the urban community of Fes and the National Fisheries Office, with a total investment of approximately 50 million dirhams, under an agreement that spans thirty years. The goal is to establish modern infrastructure that meets applicable health and technical standards, providing an organized space for the wholesale marketing of fish that ensures consumer safety while preserving product quality.
Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Success
Before the project could commence, several challenges were encountered, notably a legal dispute concerning the properties of the previous livestock market that occupied the same site. Financial and legal issues were successfully resolved, allowing for the liberation and securing of the land, with the previous activities relocated to an alternative site spanning nearly seven hectares. According to available data, the total cost of the project was revised from 45 million dirhams to 50 million dirhams, with significant financial contributions from the National Fisheries Office alongside the municipality of Fes. Furthermore, the National Fisheries Office has been entrusted with the oversight and management of the project during the agreed operational period.
This new facility is expected to serve as an effective tool for organizing the wholesale fish trade within the scientific capital, especially following the implementation of regulations that prohibit the issuance of new licenses for this activity outside the official framework. Such measures are anticipated to reduce the proliferation of unregulated markets and enhance the competitiveness of the legal channels for marketing seafood products.
From a technical perspective, the project has been designed with a vision that addresses the various health and logistical requirements lacking in previous similar facilities. It will include modern sales areas, an independent ice production unit, refrigeration and preservation rooms, veterinary monitoring facilities, and integrated electrical, administrative, and technical equipment that ensures compliance with the cold chain from the moment the product arrives until it is marketed.
This initiative reflects the commitment of local authorities and relevant institutions to elevate the level of health safety for seafood products available in the market, thereby enhancing consumer confidence in the quality of fish being traded. Additionally, it aims to provide better working conditions for professionals and traders alike.
As the official opening date approaches, the municipality continues to complete the exterior works and finalize connections to water, electricity, and sewage networks, in addition to equipping parking areas, green spaces, and complementary facilities. An additional budget of five million dirhams has been allocated to finalize the various necessary technical arrangements.
The opening of the new fish sales hall in Bensouda is expected to mark a significant turning point in the seafood marketing system within the Fes region, contributing to the establishment of a modern model that balances economic efficiency with adherence to health standards, thereby serving the interests of professionals while protecting consumer rights and enhancing efforts to organize the sector at the regional level.
As reported by albahr.info.
