Tunisia imposes a total ban on octopus fishing to protect marine resources.

In a positive move praised by environmental organizations, Tunisian authorities have announced a ban on octopus fishing along all the country's coasts, starting from April 1st.

This decision was made through an official statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources on March 27th, stating that the ban will be implemented without a predefined end date.

Ahmed Souissi, the president of the "Qarqan for Sustainable Development, Culture, and Entertainment Association" based on the famous octopus fishing island of Kerkennah, welcomed this step, describing it as "a good albeit belated measure," emphasizing its aim to protect octopus during their breeding and growth periods to ensure sustainability.

It is worth noting that the current octopus fishing season started on November 16th and was supposed to end on May 15th, but Souissi pointed out that illegal fishing outside permitted seasons, along with the use of environmentally harmful methods, has significantly reduced octopus populations in recent years.

He highlighted that his association, in collaboration with other non-governmental environmental organizations, has repeatedly alerted authorities to the threats facing this vital marine resource, especially in the Kerkennah region where residents heavily rely on octopus fishing as a primary source of income.

He explained that the decline in octopus numbers has driven fishermen to target other marine species, leading to an ecological imbalance in the Kerkennah archipelago, as previously warned.