Russia has begun implementing a new fisheries agreement with Morocco, granting its fleet access to Atlantic waters off the Moroccan coast under a regulated quota system.
The deal, signed in October 2025 between Morocco and Russia, aims to structure Russian fishing activity while setting clear limits on catches and preserving marine resources.
Under the agreement, Russian vessels are authorized to operate in designated Atlantic zones within Morocco’s exclusive economic area. Catch quotas are overseen by Rosrybolovstvo, which allocates fishing rights among licensed operators.
The deal allows Russia to catch between 90,000 and 100,000 metric tons of fish annually, primarily small pelagic species such as sardines, mackerel and anchovies—key resources for both food consumption and industrial processing, including canned and frozen products.
During the first year, up to 10 Russian vessels are permitted to operate in Moroccan waters. The number of boats allowed in subsequent years will be determined by a joint Moroccan-Russian commission tasked with overseeing the agreement.
The four-year deal replaces a previous agreement that expired on Dec. 31, 2024. It introduces updated rules on fishing zones and includes scheduled biological rest periods aimed at protecting fish stocks.
A joint fisheries commission has been established to monitor implementation, meet annually, and adjust quotas as needed. Russia formally appointed its representatives to the body in February 2026.
The agreement is partly based on scientific data gathered during Russia’s “Great African Expedition,” launched in August 2024. The research included surveys of Morocco’s waters between 2024 and 2025 to assess fish stock recovery during spawning periods for key pelagic species.
Beyond fishing, the deal also includes academic cooperation, with Russia offering 50 scholarships to Moroccan students for the 2025–2026 academic year in fisheries-related fields, along with similar numbers planned for the following two years.
Morocco and Russia have maintained fisheries agreements since 1992, making this the ninth such partnership. Under the previous 2020 deal, Russia was allowed to deploy up to 10 trawlers and catch as much as 140,000 metric tons of small pelagic fish over four years, in exchange for annual payments of about $7 million plus additional fees tied to catch value.
The lower quota in the new agreement reflects concerns over declining sardine stocks along Morocco’s Atlantic coast in recent years.
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