Safi (Berber: Asfi, ⴰⵙⴼⵉ; Arabic:أسفي‎, Portuguese: Safim) is a city in western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Safi Province, it has a population of 282,227 (2004 census), but is also the centre of an agglomeration which has an estimated 793,000 inhabitants (1987). The city was under protectorate by the Portuguese Empire from 1488 to 1541, the fortress built by Vasco da Gama's brother-in-law to protect the city, under Portuguese rule is still there today. Safi is the main fishing port for the country's sardine industry, and also exports phosphates, textiles and ceramics