Global fisheries experts warned Thursday of a steep decline in sardine stocks off Northwest Africa, where catches have dropped 34 percent in four years, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Speaking at an international workshop in Rabat, Zakya Driouch, Morocco’s Secretary of State for Fisheries, said small pelagic fish such as sardines and anchovies are vital for marine ecosystems and provide protein to over 2.5 billion people. Morocco’s sardine landings, she noted, fell from 1.2 million tons in 2020 to 700,000 tons in 2024.
Experts attributed the decline to overfishing, climate change, and recurring environmental disruptions. FAO representative Alexander Hoehn warned that 35.5 percent of global fish stocks are now overexploited, urging coordinated regional action to protect food security and ensure sustainable fishing in Atlantic coastal nations.
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