The Department of Maritime Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests (MAPMDREF), the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA) and the Organization of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of Norway and the Netherlands launched a new $2.5 million project to support the development of aquaculture in Morocco.

The project aims to meet the growing demand for technical assistance from aquaculture operators and to develop a qualified workforce for the management of the farms planned in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The project plans to install a demonstration/training station for fish production and shellfish farming in Sidi Ifni through a public-private partnership. This station will serve as a practical base for training and will be combined with theoretical training at the Maritime Professional Qualification Center (CQPM) in Sidi Ifni.

Norway's financial contribution amounts to $1.65 million and that of the Netherlands to $0.85 million. The project is aligned with the efforts made by Morocco in the fishing and aquaculture sectors and is consistent with the Halieutis strategy adopted by the country in 2009 for the development of fisheries and aquaculture.