Kingdom
Maritime Fisheries: New Zoning for Trawlers and Longliners
Starting with the 2026 fishing season, each coastal trawler is required to operate within a single management unit, with the obligation to land its catches in the ports belonging to the chosen unit, which will be indicated on the vessel’s fishing licence.
The State Secretariat in charge of Maritime Fisheries has adopted two ministerial decisions concerning the zoning of coastal trawlers and longliners, as part of the implementation of the strategic guidelines of the Halieutis Plan and to ensure sustainable management of fishery resources.
Decision No. PC CHAL-01/26 of 3 February 2026 sets the zoning for coastal trawlers by subdividing Moroccan maritime waters into five management units, with clearly defined landing ports and geographic boundaries, the State Secretariat said in a statement.
Starting with the 2026 fishing season, each coastal trawler is required to operate within a single management unit, with the obligation to land its catches in the ports belonging to the chosen unit, which will be indicated on the vessel’s fishing licence.
In parallel, Decision No. PC PAL-01/26 of 26 January 2026, amending Article 02 of Decision No. PC-PAL 01/25 establishing the zoning for longliners, adjusts the three fishing zones and the landing ports in order to ensure better coherence between the activity of this fleet segment and the reception capacity of the ports concerned.
These zoning decisions were adopted following a process of dialogue and consultation with fishing professionals.
The main objective of zoning is to ensure a coherent and balanced spatial organization, promoting sustainable exploitation of marine resources, while ensuring the economic viability of operations.
These zoning measures constitute a first phase of a gradual process to reorganize fishery development and management plans. Other complementary measures will be implemented at a later stage.
