MEDITERRANEAN PRODUCTION

Tunisia’s Aquaculture Expansion Projected Increase to 35,000 tonnes by 2030

Tunis, Tunisia, 4 September 2025 | Tunisia’s domestic aquaculture production has reached 23,000 tonnes in 2024

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Tunisia’s aquaculture industry is entering a phase of rapid growth, with production projected to reach 35,000 metric tonnes (MT) by 2030, according to a recent USDA Foreign Agricultural Service study. The sector has expanded dramatically over the past two decades, rising from just 3,000 MT to more than 23,200 MT in 2024.

The country’s 1,350 km Mediterranean coastline provides favorable conditions for aquaculture, which already accounts for 13 percent of Tunisia’s total fishery production value and sustains 3,000 direct jobs. In 2024, aquaculture revenues topped $123 million, up from $112 million the previous year.

The leading species are European sea bass, gilthead sea bream, and meagre, which together reached 20,748 MT. Other segments include bluefin tuna fattening (1,283 MT), shellfish (222 MT), and freshwater fish (950 MT).

Despite these gains, industry challenges remain. Tunisian producers struggle with environmental degradation, ineffective disease management, and dependence on imported fry and feed. The sector’s value chain also lacks integration, relying heavily on middlemen to connect farms to markets.

Looking ahead, Tunisian aquaculture companies see major opportunities in feed regulation reform. Unlike competitors in Turkey and Greece, Tunisian producers are not yet permitted to use lower-cost rendered poultry products in fish feed. Industry leaders argue that lifting this restriction would lower production costs, improve consumer affordability, and boost competitiveness in European export markets.

For the United States, this expansion represents a strategic opportunity. Tunisian aquaculture already relies on U.S. corn, soy, dried distillers’ grains, and corn gluten meal in feed formulation. Adoption of rendered products would further expand the market for U.S. exports, reinforcing the role of American feed grains in supporting Tunisia’s sustainable seafood growth.

The Tunisian government, meanwhile, has pledged support through environmental standards, subsidies covering 7–25 percent of project costs, and the introduction of new species such as shrimp and seaweed. Together, these measures are expected to consolidate Tunisia’s position as a rising aquaculture hub in the Mediterranean.

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