Tunisia suspends red coral fishing along entire coastline until 2026
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The Ministry of Agriculture in Tunisia suspended the fishing of red coral along the entire Tunisian coastline until December 31, 2026.
This decision followed a consultative commission meeting held in September 2026 and previous regulations intended to organize the maritime fishing industry. The suspension is a temporary measure and does not represent a permanent ban on the activity.
It follows a ministerial decree from September 2026 that established strict rules for the trade, including requiring professional diving licenses, a minimum depth of 50 meters for collection, and a minimum diameter of 7 millimeters for the coral. The regulations also required satellite geolocation for units and production traceability. The move affects authorized operators who harvest red coral in areas such as Tabarka.
While the suspension will pause their current operations, the ministry has not yet provided specific data on how this will impact local employment, professional income, or export volumes.
