Mauritius has established itself as a leading seafood and fisheries hub in the Indian Ocean region, supported by an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.9 million square kilometres and an extended continental shelf area of 396,000 square kilometres jointly managed with Seychelles. These vast maritime resources provide sustainable fish stocks that continue to support the growth and development of the country’s seafood industry.

The seafood sector in Mauritius has evolved into a dynamic value-added industry encompassing a wide range of activities, including fishing, fish transshipment, cold storage, warehousing, sorting, grading, cleaning, filleting, and canning. Seafood companies operating in Mauritius comply with stringent European Union standards and are Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certified to ensure high levels of food safety and quality assurance.

Mauritius is recognised as one of the leading ACP exporters of canned tuna to the European Union, with approximately 25% of the EU’s canned tuna imports originating from the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Ocean is considered the world’s second-largest tuna resource area, with fishing activities mainly carried out by European purse seiners and East and South-East Asian longliners operating within the EEZ.

Currently, fish traffic handled at Port Louis Harbour amounts to approximately 112,000 tonnes annually. According to the Port Master Plan 2016 forecast, there is significant potential for this volume to increase to 250,000 tonnes per annum in the coming years.

The quays located at Trou Fanfaron are managed by the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA), whilst the other two facilities are operated by Froid des Mascareignes Ltée and Mauritius Freeport Development Co. Ltd (MFDC) respectively.

Port Louis Harbour is equipped with modern and diversified port infrastructure designed to support a wide range of maritime activities, including container handling, bulk cargo operations, liquid bulk, fishing and cruise tourism. The port comprises several terminals and specialized jetties.

While container operations are approaching capacity limits, other facilities including solid bulk, liquid bulk, and cruise provide ample room for expansion, supporting Mauritius’ role as a regional maritime hub. This integrated infrastructure ensures the port’s ability to support evolving trade demands while maintaining its strategic position as a key maritime gateway in the region.