Leila Benali: The Moroccan coast contributes 83% to the national output and requires strict governance for its protection
Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Leila Benali emphasized that the Moroccan coast is no longer just a geographical extension, but has become a central axis in the equation of the national economy, given its demographic weight and critical role in wealth production.
During a meeting of the National Committee for Integrated Coastal Management in Rabat, the government official highlighted that the coastal strip, stretching approximately 3,500 kilometers between the Atlantic and Mediterranean fronts, hosts strategic activities that include fisheries, aquaculture, industry, tourism, ports, desalination, and renewable energies. According to official data, this system contributes about 83% to the Gross Domestic Product, while more than half of the kingdom’s population resides in coastal areas.
However, this economic significance is matched by increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems amid urban expansion and accelerating climate changes. This prompted, according to Benali, an approach based on integrated planning, coordination of sectoral policies, and strict activation of environmental governance tools.
The minister reminded that the legal framework governing the coastal area has been enhanced since 2015 with the adoption of a specific coastal law, which is currently being complemented by draft decrees concerning the regulation of liquid discharges and the organization of sand extraction from the dunes. This initiative overlaps with a set of laws related to environmental impact assessments, water management, protected areas, urban planning, marine pollution, and renewable energies.
In terms of planning, the National Coastal Plan, approved in 2022 for a ten-year period, serves as a roadmap for the protection and rehabilitation of the coastal area, implemented through sectoral strategies including the “Halieutis” strategy, the National Port Strategy aiming for 2030, and the energy transition strategy, alongside programs for monitoring marine pollution.
On the environmental front, Benali revealed that expanding protected marine areas to cover 30% of marine spaces could increase fish biomass by up to 500%, enhancing the sustainability of fish resources and supporting stability in the fisheries sector.
This direction aligns with the Atlantic Initiative launched by King Mohammed VI, aimed at enabling coastal countries to access the Atlantic Ocean, particularly through the Atlantic port of Dakhla, in addition to the “Origin, Transit, and Certification” (OTC) corridor for transporting and valorizing green energy and strategic minerals. It also intersects with the vision of a low-carbon blue economy, supported by Princess Lalla Hasna, president of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection.
On the ground, five regional coastal designs are being prepared, with plans to complete the remaining four by 2026. The recent meeting was dedicated to reviewing the implementation status of the law and national plan and presenting the first regional design pertaining to the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, which includes strategic objectives and precise tracking and evaluation indicators, in a bid to accelerate the transition from text to tangible results.
