Fish Market on Hot Tin in Marrakech.. ONPF Denies Tightening Restrictions

A dispute is brewing over new access requirements at Marrakech's wholesale fish market, pitting the Moroccan Association for Human Rights' Manara-Marrakech branch against the National Office for Fisheries (ONP). The rights group has formally complained to public institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, that new conditions and documents required to enter the market and conduct business are difficult for many professionals to meet.

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The issue at hand is not the professionals' refusal of the new organizational procedures within the wholesale market, but rather the type of documents required. Those concerned are only asking for a sufficient transitional period to complete them, given that obtaining some takes time.

According to the rights group, these new rules could prevent small-scale traders, retailers, and semi-wholesalers, many of whom have worked in the market for years without formalizing their status, from continuing their livelihoods. They also highlight that limited entry points exacerbate overcrowding, disrupt normal operations, and cause significant hardship for traders arriving from distant cities. This delay in returning to their home markets affects product quality, leads to financial losses, and ultimately impacts the availability of fish for consumers.

The Association argues that without a transition period and genuine support for these professionals, the new measures could infringe upon their constitutional and internationally recognized right to dignified work. Mustafa El Faze, head of the Manara-Marrakech branch, clarified that the issue isn't a rejection of organizational procedures but rather the nature of the required documents. He stated that professionals simply need adequate time to obtain them, as some processes are time-consuming.

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These professionals are only asking for a sufficient transitional period to complete them, given that obtaining some takes time.

El Faze noted that while the new regulations are expected to improve market operations, facilitate access and exit, and benefit both wholesale and retail traders, the immediate administrative hurdles are a major concern. He emphasized that the requirement for a commercial register for individuals and company documents for legal entities demands considerable time to complete. The process involves multiple administrative offices, making adherence to current deadlines extremely challenging for many.

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The professionals who contacted the association expressed their readiness to comply with the new provisions.

Furthermore, the demands extend to assistant sellers, handlers, and street vendors, who are also requesting an extension for document completion. They are seeking a mechanism for quick access to the market to purchase fish, especially given that fish often travels 40 to 50 kilometers to reach neighboring towns. However, a source from the ONP refuted these claims, asserting that the market is exclusively for professional operators and its organization follows internal regulations agreed upon with professional bodies, with no recent changes. The ONP source stated that a July 27 meeting was consultative and did not result in new access rules, but rather focused on hygiene, e-gate activation, and identification badges, all of which were unanimously approved by attendees.

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The implementation of these measures immediately will put a number of them in front of administrative difficulties.