A 12-month project titled “Decarbonizing Artisanal Fishing in Tunisia: Promoting Clean Energy for Sustainable Coastal Communities” was launched on Wednesday by the British Embassy in Tunisia, in partnership with WWF UK and WWF North Africa.
According to a press release from the British Embassy, the project aims to introduce solar-powered electric engines on artisanal fishing boats in the Gulf of Gabès. The goal is to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and noise pollution, while lowering operating costs for fishers and protecting marine biodiversity.
The project enjoys strong strategic support from national authorities, ensuring alignment with Tunisia’s priorities in energy transition and fisheries management.
WWF North Africa and its implementation partners will closely monitor the project’s progress and share key insights to encourage replication at both national and regional levels.
The initiative also aims to advance the transition to clean energy, marine conservation, gender equality, and global innovation by building inclusive and sustainable coastal communities through international collaboration.
Funded by the UK government with £254,950 (approximately 1 million Tunisian dinars), the project is being implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME), the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA), local fishing organizations and cooperatives, solar equipment suppliers, and financial institutions.
