AZA4ICE Conference in Tangier: Innovating for Sustainable Aquaculture Across Both Shores of the Mediterranean
On 8 and 9 July 2026, representatives from the Moroccan Hub of the WestMED Initiative participated in the conference “Two Shores, One Blue Future: Circular Aquaculture Across and Beyond the Mediterranean” in Tangier. Organised by the AZA4ICE project (Interreg Euro-MED programme), the event brought together around fifty stakeholders. Its objective was to transfer innovative technologies and approaches in circular aquaculture, already successfully deployed in the North, to the Southern shore.
Strong Institutional and Private Sector Mobilisation
Morocco was represented by the State Secretariat in charge of Maritime Fisheries, ANDA (National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture), INRH (National Institute for Fisheries Research), and the Moroccan Aquaculture Association representing the private sector. On the Northern shore, the meeting mobilised universities and research centres from Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, the industrial clusters Pôle Mer Méditerranée (France) and ACUIPLUS (Spain), as well as national development agencies that helped structure debates on governance and transnational funding.
Debates Focused on Action and Funding
The panel discussions provided an opportunity to assess the current state of aquaculture in Morocco and to build upon the outcomes of the AZA4ICE project. Participants also explored funding avenues for the sustainable transition and research, notably through the PRIMA programme and development agencies.
WestMED: Tangible Results and Project Incubation Tools
During her interventions, Ms Elke Westenberger, Moroccan National coHub, recalled WestMED’s driving role in promoting a smart, secure, and resilient blue economy, backed by a track record of 216 supported projects and €115 million in investment. She highlighted the initiative’s six Technical Working Groups, which serve as genuine frameworks for sharing expertise and knowledge. These incubation laboratories are designed to build solid partnerships between both shores of the Mediterranean and to develop bankable projects eligible for European funds.
A Strategic Vision for the Future of Moroccan Coasts
To turn intentions into concrete investments, the Moroccan Hub highlighted the Kingdom’s ambitious roadmap aimed at creating nine regional maritime clusters along its Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines. These clusters will feature integrated investment project pipelines tailored to the specific functions and potential of the Kingdom’s nine coastal regions. Particular emphasis was placed on the Mediterranean Maritime Clusters Alliance, presented as a crucial mechanism for structuring these industrial and technological ecosystems, promoting skills transfer, and ensuring long-term cross-border cooperation.
The event concluded with a study visit to the INRH Centre of Excellence for Aquatic Animal Health in Tangier, showcasing local advancements in scientific research and biosecurity.
