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Aquaculture is considered a key sector in the economy of the Dajla-Oued Eddahab region, contributing to over 70% of national production and offering many highly promising growth prospects. 

The city of Dakhla boasts a modern infrastructure, the first of its kind in Africa, for the development of the sector. This is an aquaculture station that produces the scientific and technical data necessary to ensure the development of sustainable projects specialising in the production of fry, shellfish and algae, whether microscopic or intended for consumption. 

The aim of scientific research for the marine fisheries sector is to ensure the stability and sustainability of fish stocks, as well as the transfer of knowledge and expertise to professionals for the efficient management of the sector. 

Leadership and growth prospects

The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region serves as the Kingdom of Morocco’s laboratory for sustainable aquaculture, offering endless investment opportunities in the sector. It is the first to pave the way for the development of this blue economy at a national level.

With a budget of 4.7 million Moroccan dirhams (440,000 euros) earmarked for drawing up a new-generation plan incorporating a strategic environmental assessment, an aquaculture infrastructure project (PSA) and its impact study, the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region has become a pilot area for testing the approach adopted to balance economic growth, environmental sustainability and attractiveness to investors.

As the official capital of aquaculture in the North African country, the city of Dakhla reinforces Morocco’s position as a key player in the blue economy at regional and international level.

Against a backdrop of growing global interest in aquaculture to alleviate pressure on fisheries and meet the rising demand for marine proteins, the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region enjoys strong growth prospects, making it a major hub for oyster and mussel production at a national level.

In this vein, Morocco aims to implement 450 aquaculture projects, 123 of which are designed for young people, small-scale fishing cooperatives and local project promoters, with a purely social focus. 

The North African country’s ambition is to achieve an annual production of 390,000 tonnes, create 6,300 direct jobs and position the country as an African leader in sustainable aquaculture. 

To this end, around 24,000 hectares of marine areas have been identified for new investments, concentrated in three main sectors: fish farming, shellfish farming and seaweed cultivation. And in 2025 alone, some 200 aquaculture farms were established and 322 agreements were signed for the development of new hatcheries and the consolidation, consequently, of the supply chain. 

Given the efforts made to develop this promising sector, mobilising 1.5 billion dirhams (140 million euros) in public investment in aquaculture, Morocco has managed to reach a production level of 7,000 tonnes by 2024, generating 310 million dirhams (29 million euros) in revenue. 

Scientific research

Scientific research plays a central role in the development of aquaculture, monitoring fish stocks on a daily basis and in real time to analyse their trends and formulate precise scientific recommendations that serve as the basis for efficient fisheries management. 

In this regard, the mission of the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), based in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, is particularly noteworthy. It supports the sector’s development through integrated scientific work led by its specialised laboratories, with the aim of ensuring the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources and strengthening the foundations of the blue economy in the region. 

The Institute has three main laboratories that operate in a complementary manner and cover the various aspects related to the management and sustainability of marine resources: 

• The first, specialising in marine fisheries, carries out daily monitoring of fish landings at the port of Dakhla, as well as in the fishing villages scattered along the coastline. 
• The second is responsible for monitoring the quality of the marine environment and the health control of seafood products, particularly clams. 
• The third is an aquaculture station that plays a key role in research and development within the sector. 

The INRH’s work is not limited to health aspects, but also includes carrying out assessments of fishery resources and their exploitation systems. It is also responsible for monitoring the marine environment and assessing the impact of human activities on coastal ecosystems. 

Accredited to international standards, the laboratory carries out regular weekly monitoring operations to check the health quality of clams and ensure the absence of biotoxins that could pose a health risk to consumers. 

In parallel with this work, the institute also regularly issues recommendations aimed at raising awareness among various stakeholders, investors and professionals regarding the need to respect ecological balances.

Resource conservation

The work carried out by the INRH, through its three laboratories, forms part of an integrated national vision that aims to establish a model of sustainable development based on the enhancement and conservation of marine resources.

Thanks to this approach, the region is able to balance the exploitation and conservation of marine resources, thereby ensuring their sustainability for future generations and increasing the sector’s attractiveness to investment.

In accordance with the royal directives issued by King Mohammed VI regarding the development of the blue economy, the conservation of fishery resources is not only a collective and shared responsibility but also an essential pillar of this economic model, which requires responsible and sustainable exploitation.

The monitoring of the exploitation of fishery resources aims to collect accurate data on landings, the structure of fish stocks—particularly small pelagics—as well as to analyse the dynamics of these resources and assess their level of exploitation; this contributes to science-based decision-making that ensures sustainable production.