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Join on Telegram Agadir – Morocco has taken a new step toward strengthening sustainable fisheries management with the launch of the Global Marine Commodities 2 (GMC2) initiative.
The project was initiated after Zakia Driouich, Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries, and Ilaria Carnevali, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Morocco, signed the official project documents in Rabat.
The project is designed to support the transition toward a more sustainable seafood sector by integrating responsible fishing practices into economic development linked to the blue economy.
It is funded by the Global Environment Facility, while its implementation is overseen by UNDP with technical assistance from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, an organization focused on improving sustainability across global seafood supply chains.
The program, titled “Integration of Sustainable Marine Fisheries Value Chains into a Blue Economy for the Large Marine Ecosystems of the Canary Current and the Central Pacific Coast of the Americas,” marks the start of the initiative’s activities in Morocco.
The GMC2 program is part of a broader international effort to encourage responsible management of marine resources.
It aims to strengthen governance in the fisheries sector, promote environmentally responsible production, and enhance the value of seafood products sourced through sustainable practices.
Morocco is participating in the project alongside Mauritania, Senegal, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama. Within the Canary Current ecosystem, the initiative is expected to reinforce cooperation among countries that share marine resources.
Boosting sustainable fisheries
The program places particular emphasis on safeguarding key fish stocks, including small pelagic species such as sardines, which represent a crucial component of Morocco’s fisheries sector and contribute significantly to the country’s food security and export revenues.
The initiative will also focus on strengthening Morocco’s institutional and technical capacities to ensure long-term and sustainable use of marine resources.
At the national level, activities will primarily target small pelagic fisheries, notably sardines and anchovies, which constitute a strategic segment of the Moroccan fishing industry.
The project includes measures to improve the sustainability of these fisheries, expand consumer awareness and demand for seafood sourced from responsible supply chains, and enhance the availability and transparency of scientific data related to fish stocks.
It will also support cooperation among regional partners in research and management of shared marine resources.
Running over a five-year period, the program also intends to engage actors throughout the seafood value chain, including producers, processors, and buyers, to encourage stronger market demand for products originating from sustainable fisheries.
