The Moroccan octopus fishing season will restart in January, with prices likely to see a new round of competition.

Core information: According to foreign media reports, Moroccan authorities have officially confirmed that the new octopus fishing season will officially commence on January 1, 2026. The official catch quota is expected to be announced by the end of 2025. This restart is based on an extended fishing moratorium, which was originally set to end in November but was extended to the end of December due to monitoring results showing a higher proportion of small to medium-sized octopuses in Moroccan waters. The government decided to extend the moratorium to allow the resources to recover further and improve the size of individual octopuses.

Industry insiders point out that the Moroccan authorities' move aims to balance resource sustainability with economic benefits from the fishing industry. Octopus is one of the country's most valuable seafood exports, with its export markets mainly concentrated in Europe and Asia, particularly in countries such as Spain, Japan, and China. Industry analysis suggests that the specific level of the 2026 catch quota will be a key factor in determining subsequent market prices and trade flows. If the quota is tight, it will support high prices in the short term; conversely, if the quota is high, it may cause a phased price pullback. Meanwhile, Mauritania has already opened the octopus fishing season on December 16, and its state-owned trading company, SMCP, is expected to announce the official guide price on December 23. Industry insiders are closely watching this price signal, as they believe it will directly influence the pricing strategy for Moroccan octopus exports and the buying ...