Fishing enthusiasts returned on Sunday in Khénifra with their rods and reels for the opening of the trout fishing season, marking the start of the 2025-2026 fishing season.
On the banks of the Oum Er Rbia river, no fewer than 450 passionate and amateur fishermen gathered for the resumption of trout fishing, while over 2 million trout fry were released into the waters by the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) in an effort to preserve aquatic biodiversity and promote ecotourism related to fishing.
The trout fishing season opened under the slogan “A renewed commitment to sustainable fishing,” an opportunity to recall the numerous measures taken by the ANEF to ensure the smooth running of this season and to preserve aquatic ecosystems, including, among others, the restocking of aquatic environments, hydrobiological monitoring of waterways, and support for fishing associations through awareness actions regarding current regulatory provisions and good sustainable fishing practices.
Furthermore, more than 26 million fry, across all species, have been produced in aquaculture stations under the ANEF to ensure the restocking of over fifty aquatic environments, including rivers, natural lakes, and water bodies.
As for trout fishing, the daily quota is set at a maximum of 8 fish, with a size requirement of over 24 cm. Fishing for other species is allowed starting May 10 at lakes and water bodies.
To ensure compliance with these provisions, ANEF agents remain vigilant. They educate fishermen on the imperative to adhere to current procedures, particularly respecting the daily quota and not violating fishing regulations, in addition to combating various forms of illegal fishing.
In a statement to MAP, Haddou Zidane, head of the Wildlife Unit at the ANEF in Khénifra, affirmed that this day, marking the opening of the fishing season in the Oum Er-Rbia river in the province of Khénifra, saw the participation of 450 fishermen from various cities across the Kingdom, reminding that daily awareness and support work is undertaken to remind fishermen of the rules governing this activity and to highlight the efforts made in the fight against illegal fishing.
For his part, Adil Smouni, President of the Moroccan Federation of Ecological Fishing, emphasized that the choice of the Oum Er-Rbia region in Khénifra to launch the fishing season for 2025-2026 highlights the ecological and tourist importance of this area located in the Khénifra National Park, offering an attractive environment for fishermen, specifying that the Federation is committed to promoting sustainable fishing by encouraging each fisherman to return the fish to its natural habitat after capture.
It should be noted that the practice of fishing in freshwater is governed by an annual regulation validated during the National Council of Fishing and Continental Aquaculture, which held its meeting on January 29. This regulation specifically sets the opening and closing dates for fishing, daily catch quotas per fisherman, minimum sizes allowed by species, as well as biological reserve areas where fishing is strictly prohibited.
Additionally, a framework partnership agreement has been signed between the ANEF and the Moroccan Federation of Ecological Fishing, which includes more than 30 associations, to strengthen the capacities of these entities in the field of sustainable fishing management and the preservation of aquatic environments and local species.
As part of the “Forests of Morocco” Strategy, recreational fishing represents an important lever for the development of ecotourism, particularly in national parks. Through these initiatives, the ANEF reaffirms its commitment to sustainable management of fishery resources and the enhancement of continental aquatic environments.