Tunisia has decided to prohibit octopus fishing throughout its coast from April 1 and for an indefinite period, a measure which aims to preserve this marine resource threatened by overfishing.
This ban, announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, concerns all Tunisian territorial waters in order to allow the renewal of stocks.
According to the authorities, this decision follows a disturbing drop in catches in recent years, due to intensive exploitation, in particular by unregulated techniques.
Fishermen, especially those in coastal regions such as Kerkennah, Mahdia, Sfax and Zarzis, are directly impacted by this measure.
Many express their concerns about the economic consequences of such a ban, especially since the octopus is an essential source of income for many families.
This decision is part of a broader desire for sustainable management of fishery resources in Tunisia. Other measures, such as the establishment of quotas and increased monitoring of fishing areas, could follow in order to guarantee the preservation of marine species and the balance of the ecosystem.
It remains to be seen how this prohibition will be applied and if it will really allow the trend of the decline of the octopus in Tunisia.
