• Tunisia plans 52% aquaculture growth to 35,000 tons by 2030.
• Investments in sector nearly doubled in 2025 vs 2024.
• Aquaculture aims to ease strain on overfished wild stocks.

Tunisia plans to boost aquaculture production by 52% to 35,000 tons by 2030, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report. The initiative aims to ease pressure on wild fish stocks and support rising domestic and export demand.

Aquaculture currently accounts for about 13% of Tunisia’s total fisheries output. Production reached 23,003 tons in 2024. The USDA projects annual growth of around 9%, driven by private investment and modernization of facilities.

The sector has seen a surge in capital inflows. In 2024, approved aquaculture projects totaled 26 million dinars ($8.4 million), up sevenfold from 2023. By July 2025, investment had already reached 47 million dinars ($16.2 million), nearly double last year’s figure, according to the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA).

Tunisia operates 42 marine farms and 30 freshwater facilities, producing sea bass, sea bream, meagre, shrimp, shellfish, and bluefin tuna. Despite this growth, traditional fishing remains dominant, supplying 87% of the country’s 158,500 tons of fish output in 2022.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum