Preserving the ecosystem of the Al Hoceima National Park Marine Protected Area

Project begin: 01/06/2021

How to protect the threatened marine ecosystem of the Al Hoceima National Park in Morocco? By establishing No-Take Zones that involve the fishing communities.

Leading organisation: AGIR (Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources)

The country where the team is based: Morocco

Covered Countries: Morocco

Theme: Biodiversity, Education for Sustainable Development, Local and Indigenous Knowledge, Ocean

Sub-themes: Climate change, Coastal resource management, Cultural diversity, Environment, Gender equality and women's empowerment, Knowledge sharing, Ocean education, Participatory/citizen science, Protecting marine ecosystems, Resources management, Waste management

Tag: #Women #Youth

Selection: 2022

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Project needs

Communication strategy design

Crowdfunding

Digital communication

Equipment supply

Financial Reporting

Graphic design

In search of financial partners

Monitoring and evaluation

Press relations

Research

Sponsorship/ Philanthropy

Strategy/advocacy

Training

Volunteer workforce

Web design

Discover

Launching of a submarine device monitoring ocean health

Local fishermen use traditional, handmade fish traps

An osprey in Al Hoceima National Park

AGIR members and scientists discuss no-take zones

The Marine Protected Area of Al Hoceima National Park is the most important protected area and the only National Park in Morocco. The park is the last refuge of the original Mediterranean biodiversity. It is home to several rare and endangered species on the IUCN red list. It is also known to be home to many key species and a red coral reserve

Its invaluable biological diversity is facing climate change and major threats (illegal fishing, overfishing, pollution, etc.).

AGIR contributes to the conservation of Mediterranean ecosystems by involving the local population. This non-profit organisation has decided to develop a project for the establishment and co-management of No Take Zones and the adjacent zones of this marine area.

These No-Take Zones will be created in connection with the Park’s deep valleys where fishing and farming communities are concentrated. They will be managed by local organisations.

Fishing communities involved

To contribute to the protection of the marine ecosystem, the association has been working on different objectives: strengthening governance and developing management solutions for the marine area, increasing the sustainability of community solutions and documenting the process of establishing No-Take Zones.

Many actions will be implemented. For example: raising awareness among stakeholders and actors, collection of good practices, setting up local committees representing artisanal fishermen communities, drawing up a training-action plan, etc.

This initiative also aims to be duplicable. This is already the case in the Souss Massa Park in Agadir on the Atlantic.

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