The coming weeks are of particular importance for the Tunisian fishing sector in its relations with the European Union. From 26 to 30 October, Tunisia will take part in the 49th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean in Rome. This meeting must stop new inventory management rules. In addition, a European delegation is expected in Tunisia on November 16. In preparation for this visit, controls and construction sites have been intensified in the fishing ports of Sousse and Hergla.
The first subject concerns the red shrimp of the Strait of Sicily. A recommendation from the CGPM has extended until 2026 the transitional phase of the multi-year management plan for zones 12 to 16. This extension is accompanied by a 3% reduction in the capture ceilings for the giant red shrimp and the blue shrimp. The 49th session of the CGPM will be held at the FAO headquarters in Rome from 26 to 30 October. The capture ceiling of the giant red shrimp granted to Tunisia for 2026 is set at 36,000 kilograms. According to a report by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, this quota had already been reached on May 15. Secondly, the Tunisian capture certificates registered on the European CATCH platform exceeded at least 50,960 kilograms, or 41.5% more than the ceiling. The MASAF has therefore asked Italian operators to refuse cargo from catches beyond the international limit. Exchanges will also continue on the scientific level. A technical meeting on the collection of data on deep-seat red shrimp in the central and eastern Mediterranean will be held from 9 to 11 November at the FAO in Rome. It will be followed by a meeting on Central Mediterranean stocks from 11 to 14 November.
Regardless of quotas, the health aspect remains decisive for access to the European market. According to Diwan FM radio, which quotes Samir Mhiri, head of animal production at the Regional Commission for Agricultural Development in Sousse, a European Union delegation is expected in Tunisia on November 16. In anticipation of this visit, inspections were strengthened in the ports of Sousse and Hergla. They should make it possible to evaluate sanitation, wholesale markets and equipment. In Sousse, the paving, wastewater drainage, refrigeration storage and construction of a food ice factory are almost complete. The Hergla market has reopened, but the veterinary approval procedure remains ongoing. These actions are part of a broader effort to align the Tunisian sector with the health standards required for products intended for export.
The economic stakes are high. In the first seven months of 2026, Tunisia exported 18,400 tonnes of fishery products worth 422.3 million dinars, or 127 million euros. Italy remains the first market with 34% of exports, followed by Spain with 12%. Together, these destinations absorb 46% of Tunisian fish exports. However, the two files remain separate. The dispute over the red shrimp concerns fishing quotas, stock sustainability and traceability via the CATCH system. The visit of November 16, according to the information available to date, concerns the health and veterinary compliance of the supply chain. However, these two issues have an effect on Tunisia’s ability to maintain regular access to the European market for its fishery products.
