Morocco’s newly appointed minister-delegate in charge of maritime fisheries, Ahmed El Mahdi Mezouari, takes office with a long political career in the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) and a series of economic, environmental and infrastructure challenges facing the fisheries sector.
Appointed on Friday, Oct. 16, as minister-delegate to the minister of agriculture, maritime fisheries and food sovereignty, Mezouari hails from Mohammedia, where he built much of his political and organizational career before moving into national politics.
His appointment marks a new stage for the USFP politician, whose career has included local government responsibilities, regional party leadership and a seat on the party’s political bureau.
From Mohammedia to national politics
Mezouari’s political career is closely linked to Mohammedia, where he previously served on the municipal council and held organizational positions within the USFP, including as the party’s provincial secretary and later its regional secretary for Casablanca-Settat.
The son of the late left-wing activist Lahcen Mezouari, he grew up in a politically engaged family and progressed through the party’s ranks, from local responsibilities to regional and national roles.
His previous parliamentary experience, during the 2011-2016 legislative term, helped establish his national profile, particularly through his work on the House of Representatives’ Finance and Economic Development Committee.
Mezouari remained politically active in his hometown and sought to return to Parliament in the Sept. 23, 2026 legislative elections, aiming to represent Mohammedia once again.
Mohamed Ba Saleh, a member of the USFP’s provincial office in Mohammedia, described Mezouari’s appointment as a source of pride for the city, saying it was an achievement for the community as a whole.
Ba Saleh said Mezouari’s appointment reflected a long process of advancement within the party, describing him as a politician with the political and academic experience required for the position.
“He is a party man who progressed through all the positions within the organization before reaching the political bureau,” Ba Saleh told Hespress.
He also noted that Mezouari grew up in Mohammedia, attended its public schools and was involved in the party’s youth organization before taking on municipal responsibilities across two terms.
Fisheries sector faces pressing challenges
Beyond his political background, Mezouari takes charge of a sector facing interconnected economic, environmental and social pressures. Its stakeholders include fishers, seafood traders, processing and value-added businesses, exporters, rescue services, ports and related infrastructure.
Kamal Sabri, head of the North Atlantic Fisheries Chamber in Casablanca, welcomed the appointment and expressed hope that new leadership would bring renewed momentum to the sector.
“Bringing new blood into the sector will certainly help renew it, particularly with the appointment of an official who has experience in the field of consulting firms,” Sabri said.
He argued that the fisheries sector had experienced setbacks despite the lengthy experience of its previous leadership and called for an assessment of the national Halieutis strategy, which he said was nearing its final phase.
Sabri urged the new minister-delegate to engage with all stakeholders, including professionals and craft workers, and review the findings of a study on the strategy. The study, he said, covers three main areas: sustainability, conservation of fish stocks and competitiveness.
He also highlighted problems with maritime rescue vessels, saying most were out of service and had not been repaired.
In addition, he pointed to closed fish-landing sites in Skhirat, Sidi Abed and Bouznika, despite billions of dirhams having been spent on them.
The new minister-delegate is therefore expected to address operational shortcomings while engaging with industry stakeholders on the sustainability of fish stocks, the competitiveness of the sector and the effectiveness of existing infrastructure and policy frameworks.
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