Dakhla: Strong aquaculture and in-demand oyster farms

The southern Moroccan city of Dakhla, which has eight oyster farms, has surpassed Oualidia, which was a national pioneer in oyster breeding, to become the first location for oyster production in the Kingdom.

Oysters now make up a significant portion of locally produced goods in Morocco as a result of the expansion of its breeding program in Dakhla. Dakhla Bay is favorable for expanding shellfish cultivation generally.

At the time of the Spanish occupation, the region was called el Rio del Oro, because it was very rich in fish and phytoplankton, the raw food material of oysters.

According to Pascale Lorcy, an expert in oyster breeding whose work has been concentrated at Dakhla, “Oysters develop quickly because they are well nourished! We advocate for the preservation of the bay of Dakhla’s distinctive ecology and the intelligent design of the numerous tourism-related initiatives that are aimed at it.

According to Pascal Lorcy, “in Dakhla, we have oysters within nine months, but in the French department of Itil and on the other coastlines of Europe, it takes two and a half to three years for the first batches of oysters to arrive.”

According to Lorcy, this occurrence is brought on by the waters of Dakhla’s abundance in phytoplankton, which oysters use to fuel their growth. The expert noted that the Gulf of Dakhla is abundant in fish because to its ancient water level, which ranges from 17 to 23 degrees Celsius throughout the year. He also noted that the water contains minimal sulfur and does not vary significantly in temperature.

Oysters cease developing below 15 degrees Celsius and over 22 degrees Celsius, according to Lorcy, who identified Dakhla Bay’s potential in the field of oyster breeding in 2001. He also noted that all of these circumstances support the healthy growth of oysters.

The head of French workshops for oyster breeding, Mohamed Anfdouak, was reported by “Jeune Afrique” as stating, “Here, there is virtually no evidence of industry, which makes the land perfect for oyster farming.” Dakhla, he said, was designated a “A” area, meaning that its ecological conditions are suitable for aquaculture.

The oysters produced in the city, which are renowned for their excellent quality and outstanding taste, are in high demand among Dakhla’s residents as well as its Moroccan and international visitors, according to the French magazine.