Morocco reports strong start to 2026 winter octopus fishing season

Morocco reports strong start to 2026 winter octopus fishing season
Tuesday 6 January 2026 - 13:31

Morocco’s winter octopus fishing season for 2026 has opened with strong results, signaling abundant stocks along the national coastline despite recent poor weather conditions, the State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries said Monday.

In a statement, the secretariat said early landing data recorded just two days after the season opened showed high quality and plentiful catches. In the southern waters off Dakhla, offshore vessels reported daily yields exceeding five tons per vessel, dominated by large size categories T1 to T3.

Traditional fishing in Dakhla also posted strong results, with large sizes prevailing and prices exceeding 120 dirhams per kilogram, up from 110 dirhams a year earlier. Coastal trawlers operating in southern zones landed sizes ranging from T3 to T5 at prices between 110 and 120 dirhams.

The secretariat said scientific assessments by the National Institute of Fisheries Research showed a significant recovery in octopus biomass, allowing quotas to increase by 27 to 31 percent south of Boujdour compared with 2024.

The season opened on Jan. 1 following a three and a half month biological rest period and will be subject to strict monitoring and enforcement measures.

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