In order to structure the fishing activity and provide the sector with adequate disembarkation sites, Morocco has developed 22 fishing ports distributed along the coastline. As a «Global Operator», the National Fishing Office (ONP in French, NFO in English) currently supports the management of fishing ports. The goals are:
- Control fishery management plans through a better control over disembarkation of fishery products,
- Control the quality and traceability of seafood,
- Modernize the unloading equipment and handling tools,
- Guarantee the best services to professionals in the fishing industry.
Furthermore, the Department of marine fishing initiated a National Program of Coastline Management (PNAL in French, NPCM in English) since 2000 to organize the activity of the artisanal fishing.
The main purpose of this program is to integrate the artisanal fishing into the regional socio-economic level by setting up the necessary basic infrastructures for the stabilization of the fishing effort, the valorization of the caught products and the improvement of socio-economic conditions of anglers. These infrastructures consist of Managed Disembarkation Sites (PDA in French, MDS in English) and Fishing Villages (VDP in French, FV in English).
Morocco has today 44 managed sites distributed along its coastline, including 20 fishing villages (FV) and 24 managed disembarkation sites (PDA). Please note that the FV of Dalia and Ain Beida and the MDS of Oued Laou are under construction.