Today, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) released a new investigation that exposes Moroccan fishing vessels’ continued use of illegal driftnets in the Alboran Sea. This essential biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean is home to some of the world’s most vulnerable marine species. According to the NGO, this indiscriminate and destructive form of fishing poses a serious threat to wildlife and violates various fisheries laws.
Driftnets can extend for tens of kilometres, capturing everything in their path. While they primarily target large pelagic species, such as the critically endangered Mediterranean swordfish, they also trap endangered whales, sea turtles, and sharks. When these nylon nets are abandoned or lost, they can turn into ‘ghost nets,’ continuing to kill marine life for years and contributing to plastic pollution. The significant environmental costs of driftnets have led to their ban under international, regional, and Moroccan laws.
However, EJF’s investigation found that driftnet fishing is still happening openly and may even be on the rise. As recently as April 2024, nets were observed in Moroccan ports, and vessels using them were actively operating in both Moroccan and Spanish waters in the Alboran Sea. The report’s figures indicate a substantial increase in the size of the Moroccan driftnet fleet, thereby increasing fishing pressure in the area.
“Our findings expose a systematic breach of national and international driftnet bans and a failure by Moroccan authorities to enforce them. With the use of illegal nets more than doubling, from 370 vessels in 2004 to 846 in 2024, this threatens the rich marine biodiversity of the Alboran Sea and could undermine broader efforts to safeguard Mediterranean biodiversity and fisheries, including by Morocco,” said Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of EJF.
“We urge Morocco to improve its surveillance and control of illegal activities and, through cooperation and assistance from the EU, support fishing communities to sustainably transition away from the use of driftnets by the end of 2025. By ending illegal driftnetting, we can protect marine wildlife, the ocean and the coastal communities that depend on it,” he added.
The limited enforcement of driftnet fishing bans, combined with local economic challenges, has led to a growing reliance on driftnets by the Moroccan fleet. A significant factor driving this trend is the high foreign demand for swordfish. In 2022, Morocco was the fourth-largest supplier of fish products to the EU by value, with almost all of its swordfish destined for export, primarily to Spain. Spain accounted for nearly 79% of Morocco’s swordfish exports and is the leading EU supplier of swordfish products, a large portion likely re-exported from Spain. Meanwhile, Italy remains the most significant EU market for Spanish swordfish exports, representing 84% of the trade by value.
“The continued demand for Moroccan swordfish, especially from the EU, remains a primary driver behind this illegal fishing,” said Jesus Urios Culiañez, Ocean Campaigner for EJF.
“The EU and its Member States, particularly Spain and Italy, need to take the responsibility of closely inspecting the imports. This will ensure illegally caught fish does not end up in the EU market, and EU consumers are not complicit in the environmental destruction of the Mediterranean,” he noted.
The EJF investigation reveals that, although Moroccan driftnet fishers recognise the environmental damage and illegality of driftnet fishing, they emphasise the need for government support to shift to alternative fishing gear. Moroccan fishers and civil society advocate for direct dialogue with the authorities, enabling fishers to express their concerns and share important information. This exchange could facilitate a transition away from driftnet fishing.
