Tunisia is aiming for a bold pivot in its relationship with the sea. The government has set a target to grow aquaculture output by 52 percent by 2030, lifting production to about 35,000 tonnes from roughly 23,000 tonnes in 2024. That is not just a number. The plan aims to create jobs, protect coastal fish stocks, and provide restaurateurs and families with a more stable supply of local fish.
This is a moment when policy, private capital and local know how are moving in the same direction. Industry analysts expect aquaculture to expand at around 9 percent a year, a pace supported by rising domestic demand and growing access to export markets. If that annual rate holds, the 2030 goal becomes realistic rather than aspirational.
Why the push matters
Tunisia still depends overwhelmingly on capture fisheries. In 2022, wild catches supplied about 87 percent of the country’s roughly 158,500 tonnes of fish landed, leaving aquaculture as a smaller but faster growing slice of the pie. Ramping up farmed fish is both environmental insurance and economic strategy. When farmed supply grows, it takes pressure off coastal stocks that have been strained by overfishing, traditional practices and illegal catches. It also helps stabilize prices and reduce reliance on volatile global markets.
Where the money is coming from
The recent investment numbers are striking. Approved aquaculture projects jumped to 26 million dinars in 2024, a dramatic increase from the prior year. Momentum accelerated into 2025, with the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency approving nearly 47 million dinars of new aquaculture projects in the first seven months alone. That inflow is already financing new farms, upgrades to existing operations, and the kind of infrastructure that allows producers to scale and reach export standards.
Those investments are not just about cages and ponds. They fund hatcheries, cold chains, feed and processing facilities that convert raw catch into marketable, higher value products. When investments build reliable supply chains, small coastal towns gain steady employment and the whole sector becomes more resilient to shocks.
What is being farmed and where
Tunisia’s aquaculture sector is predominantly marine based. Official figures show roughly 42 marine farms operating alongside about 30 freshwater facilities. The main farmed species include sea bass, sea bream, meagre, shrimp, shellfish and bluefin tuna. Many of these species already have established export pathways, especially into Mediterranean markets, which strengthens the business case for scaling production.
The local wins and the risks
For smallholders and coastal communities, expanded aquaculture promises clear gains. Farms create steady year round work where wild fisheries are seasonal. They provide fodder for allied industries such as feed production, hatchery services and cold storage. For the national economy, higher local production reduces food imports and can increase export revenues.
But success is not automatic. Rapid growth brings challenges. Feed and juvenile fish are still largely imported, which exposes farmers to currency risks and price swings. Environmental impacts must be managed carefully, because poorly run farms can harm water quality and wild stocks. And regulatory oversight has to keep pace with expansion to prevent conflicts over marine space and to ensure product quality for export markets.
How to make the target real
If Tunisia is to move from target to reality, three things must happen in parallel:
- Encourage smart, scalable investment. Public incentives and private finance should prioritize projects that strengthen the entire value chain: hatcheries, locally produced feed, cold chains and processing. Investments should favor technologies that raise yields without expanding environmental footprints.
- Build local capacity. Training for farm managers, technicians and cooperatives will reduce dependence on imports of know how and improve on farm survival rates. Certification and quality controls will open and protect export markets.
- Strengthen governance and environmental safeguards. Clear rules for siting farms, for waste management and for monitoring will reduce conflicts with fisheries and protect the natural resource base aquaculture depends on.
What consumers and exporters should expect
For consumers, a successful expansion could mean steadier availability of locally produced fish and less exposure to global price shocks. For exporters, predictable, higher volumes create the chance to move up the value chain into processed and branded products. For policy makers, hitting the 35,000 tonne goal means progress on food security and rural development in coastal regions.
A realistic timeline
The target to reach 35,000 tonnes by 2030 is achievable if investment momentum continues and growth averages near 9 percent annually. That pathway will require sustained public private collaboration, smarter investment in supporting infrastructure and consistent attention to environmental and health standards. If those pieces align, the next five years could transform Tunisia’s aquaculture from an important niche into a regional success story.
Ambition alone will not feed a nation. But ambition backed by capital, common sense and good governance can. Tunisia’s plan to increase aquaculture by 52 percent by 2030 is not just a production target. It is a chance to protect fisheries, grow coastal economies and put fresh, affordable fish on more plates. Done well, it will deliver returns that ripple far beyond the shoreline.
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