Serious Eats reports that some of the finest tinned sardines and fish come from the Iberian Peninsula. Those producers may win in quality, but in quantity they lose to their Southern neighbor Morocco. Morocco World News reports that the North African country produces more than 850,000 tons of canned sardines annually which makes up more than half of the world's sardine supply. According to Morocco World News, stuffed fried sardines that are laced with garlic and ginger are also a popular street food in Morocco.
Executive Manager of Moroccan canned sardine producer MIDAV Mehdi Dhaloomal reports that Morocco has "exclusive" access to the sardine species sardina pilchardus walbaum, otherwise known as pilchard sardine (via Morocco World News). This is a type of sardine that is only available near Southern Morocco and Bretagne, France. According to Crown Prince Seafood, pilchard sardines are often caught between summer and fall, and are known for their delicate flavor and firm texture. Morocco World News notes that Moroccan sardines are most commonly found in the United Kingdom. The news outlet reports that Morocco's exports make up 60% of the country's sardine supply.