30 SEPTEMBER 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Total aquaculture production reached 13% of the total fisheries production, with 21,000 tons and $106 million USD value in 2022. Aquaculture has been considered as one of the key new economic sectors of Tunisia, and successive master plans and strategies have been already established and updated. In 1994, the Master Plan of Aquaculture was established to estimate the development potential of each species sector and to identify favourable sites for inland fish farms. Three land-based farms for sea bass and sea bream were then set up by private contractors, two of which experienced serious difficulties related to environmental problems. In 2006, the Study of the Identification and Site Selection of Suitable Open Sea Areas was developed for the on-growing cages for sea bass and sea bream and fattening cages of Bluefin tuna. The promotion of the aquaculture sector in Tunisia has flourished since 2007, thanks to the advent of marine aquaculture in offshore cages, and this followed the adoption of measures under the National Aquaculture Development Strategy (2007-2016), mainly resulting from financial and fiscal incentives and the creation of the aquaculture technical centre, which acts as an interface between the profession and research and also provides training, guidance and support to the private sector. Two additional policy-related documents, the Strategic Study of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in Tunisia (2013-2016) and the 2030 Aquaculture Development Strategy, were based on the principle of developing more sustainable and resilient aquaculture through strengthened governance and management of the sector. Specific goals included the quantitative and qualitative development of aquaculture products and the increase in consumption of aquaculture products per capita with a production target of 30% of national fish production. Aquaculture Systems and Distribution Aquaculture systems in Tunisia are typically distributed between farms focusing on marine fishes, seaweeds, shellfish and shrimp, as well as freshwater inland aquaculture for fishes and microalgae (Figure 1). In 2022, the total aquatic production of Tunisia reached Since a prior review in 1992, aquaculture in Tunisia has seen exponential development, with total production increasing from 887 tons (1990) to 21,000 tons in 2022. During that period this activity has experienced successes and faced threats, reflecting broader global trends in the aquaculture industry. Here we review some key points regarding the successes and threats of aquaculture in Tunisia. Characteristics, Structures and Resources Tunisia occupies a northern position in Africa and a central position in the Mediterranean Sea, with more than 2290 km of coastline and 104,000 km² of maritime domain. Coastal lagoon and fresh water bodies extend, respectively, 105,200 and 20,000 hectares of surface. Aquaculture has been practiced in Tunisia for a very long time when considering the ancestral activity of “lagoon fisheries” as a form of extensive aquaculture. Modern aquaculture has gone through three historical stages. The initial period (1960-1985) of modern aquaculture in Tunisia began with the installation of the first freshwater fish farm, Ain Sellam, for culture of cyprinid species. This was followed by the first experimental shrimp farm (a Laurent Bouillet project) and the installation of the first fish research hatchery (sea bass, sea bream, sole) in Ghar El Melh and Monastir, where research and development aspects dominated. The second stage (1985–2007) saw the installation of the first marine hatcheries and commercial intensive aquaculture projects, with 3 large aquaculture farms with structures mainly on land. This phase was successful at the beginning only to suffer from eutrophication. Only one farm has had success so far; the other two saw their activities quite reduced. The third phase started in 2007 with the installation of the first floating cage aquaculture farms in the open sea. Since that time this offshore farming approach has become prosperous. Currently the aquaculture sector in Tunisia includes 3 marine hatcheries, 26 marine fish farms (Sea bass, Sea bream and Meagre), 10 mussel farms (European Mussel), 3 fresh water farms (Nile Tilapia), 1 seaweed culture farm and 1 pilot project of shrimp culture (whiteleg shrimp). Aquaculture Sector in Tunisia: Current Status and Development Diagnosis Mohamed Salah Romdhan, Naoufel Romdhan, Nadia Chérif, Mohamed Salah Azaza and Hechmi Missaoui FIGURE 1. Tunisian aquaculture site distribution.
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