Algeria has recovered its « historic » quota of bluefin tuna and embarked on the fattening of this fish. These two announcements were made on Tuesday by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Yacine Oualid, during his visit to Ténès in the Wilaya of Chlef where he kicked off the bluefin tuna fishing campaign (May 19 – July 1).
« Regarding the 2026 season, the bluefin tuna fishing campaign is characterized by the recovery by Algeria of its historical quota estimated at 2,467 tons, as well as by the implementation, for the first time in Algeria, of the fattening of bluefin tuna and by the allocation of a quota for the benefit of small fishermen, » said Mr. Oualid.
Fish farming: Algeria doubles its production in one year
This technique makes it possible to obtain fatter and heavier fish, which makes them more expensive for export, especially to Japan, a major consumer of bluefin tuna. It also makes it possible to lighten the pressure on wild tuna, which is sold after its capture at very low prices in Algeria, due to a lack of conservation resources.
The minister officially launched the tuna fishing campaign from the port of Tenès with the participation of « 41 boats, seven of which were manufactured locally, » the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.
In the municipality of Sidi Abderrahmane, Yacine Oualid inaugurated an aquaculture activity area with a production capacity of more than 400 tons per year in order to « support young investors in this field ».
The Minister of Agriculture stressed that the « projects already operational, as well as those that will be launched gradually » in fish farming (sea bream and sea bass), have allowed Algeria to « double its production which has increased from 7,000 tons in 2025 to 14,000 tons in 2026 », according to the same source. « This production should reach 20,000 tons in 2027, » the ministry added.
