Tunisia secures higher red shrimp fishing quota from EU

Tunisia has reached an agreement in principle to increase its deep-sea red shrimp fishing quota in the Mediterranean. The agreement was reached following technical negotiations with the European Union during the 49th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) held in Rome from October 26 to 30, 2026.

The outcome follows previous disputes regarding the volumes of shrimp caught and marketed by Tunisian operators. While the agreement marks a significant step for the Tunisian deep-sea fishing sector, the specific volume of the increase and the total new quota have not yet been publicly disclosed.

The GFCM, a regional body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), manages these quotas on a three-year cycle to balance economic interests with the sustainable management of marine ecosystems. This decision follows previous regulatory tensions, including instances where Brussels noted quota exceedances by Tunisian operators.