Sardine prices have risen sharply in recent days, climbing from around MAD13 to MAD18 a kilogram and reaching MAD20 in some neighborhoods.
The increase follows a period of relatively stable prices through the summer.
Hamid Halim, president of the Morocco Blue Foundation and a fishing-sector expert, said warmer sea temperatures were affecting where fish stocks are found.
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“Rising sea temperatures cause fish to migrate towards cooler areas, leading to an overall decline in production,” Halim told Le360.
He said the phenomenon was not confined to Morocco, with changing marine conditions also affecting African and European waters.
Seasonal catches are another factor.
Sardine production does not peak at the same time along the entire coast, Halim said, with fishing activity shifting between areas from Laayoune to Safi and further north.
That means prices can differ sharply from one city to another. Areas with plentiful supplies can see lower prices, while demand in major cities can outstrip the fish available locally.
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Authorities have previously intervened when demand was particularly high. During Ramadan, Halim said, some fish destined for processing and export was redirected to the domestic market to increase supplies and contain prices.
Those temporary measures were later lifted.
In Casablanca, sardines are currently selling for between MAD13 and MAD20 a kilogram depending on the market, quality of the catch and daily supply.
Anchovies range from MAD20 to MAD35, while hake sells for MAD50 to MAD75. Shrimp can reach MAD140 a kilogram and squid MAD130.
Prices are lower at Casablanca’s wholesale markets than at neighborhood fish stalls.
Part of that difference is attributed to the number of intermediaries—commonly known as chennaka—between the port, wholesale market and retailer. Each stage adds margins and transport costs before the fish reaches consumers.
