Morocco’s octopus season drives digital transformation in Laâyoune fish market

Morocco’s southern port city of Laâyoune has recorded 796 tons of octopus landings within a month of the fishing season’s July 15 opening,marking a strong start to what officials describe as a digitally transformed marketplace that balances commercial interests with sustainability requirements.

The harvest has maintained robust pricing levels,averaging 100 dirhams ($10) per kilogram with peaks reaching 137 dirhams,Zakaria Moujih,a sales engineer at the city’s fish market,was quoted by le360 news outlet as saying. The figures reflect healthy demand for the prized seafood,which represents a crucial economic driver for the Saharan coastal region.

A comprehensive digital transition has fundamentally altered how business is conducted at the traditionally chaotic fish auctions. Buyers and wholesalers now access real-time sales data through smartphones and shared screens,creating what market participants describe as unprecedented transparency in pricing and inventory.

“Digitalization has brought genuine peace of mind to the market,” said Hamza Toumi,vice-president of the Association of New Generation Fish Wholesalers in Laâyoune. “Everyone accesses identical information simultaneously,fostering healthy competition and eliminating tensions that previously accompanied sales transactions,” he was quoted by le360 as saying.

The technological upgrade extends beyond mere convenience. Market officials emphasize that the system supports marine resource conservation efforts by enabling precise stock monitoring and improved supply chain management. The digital infrastructure provides authorities with comprehensive data on catch volumes,pricing trends,and market dynamics,facilitating evidence-based policy decisions for sustainable fisheries management.

Local fishermen and traders have embraced what they characterize as a modern and equitable system aligned with broader development objectives. The transformation positions Laâyoune’s fish market as a model for other Moroccan ports seeking to modernize their operations while preserving marine ecosystems for future generations,the news outlet says.