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.

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The National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA) continues to work to promote the industry’s growth.

As a result, 168 aquaculture projects with a total investment of 869 million dirhams began operations this year. This is a press review from the Moroccan publication Today Le Maroc. 

This year, 168 aquaculture projects in Morocco’s various regions began operations, with an expenditure of 869 million dirhams, according to Today Morocco’s magazine on Friday.

According to the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA), out of a total of 259 agreements for the creation and operation of aquaculture farms published in the Official Bulletin at the end of 2021, 168 projects have begun the installation of their farms in various parts of the Kingdom, with an eventual production of over 80,000 tons per year and the creation of over 2,000 jobs.

Morocco remembers that on December 29, the agency’s board of directors convened its 18th meeting, which was chaired by Mohamed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests.

We understand that the work focused on reviewing ANDA’s accomplishments for the fiscal year 2021, as well as presenting its action plan and provisional budget for the year 2022. In addition to these projects, the ANDA issued a call for expressions of interest from March 3 to June 2 for the development of new aquaculture projects in the regions of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Guelmim Oued Noun, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, and l’Oriental, with over 100 aquaculture farm projects selected for a target production of 100,000 tonnes per year.

“In terms of solidarity aquaculture, ANDA states that it also provides administrative and technical support for 116 social aquaculture projects run by groups of young entrepreneurs and women’s and fishermen’s cooperatives. In the execution of their plans. “To ensure that this category is included, the Department of Maritime Fisheries has set up a structuring program with a budget of 129 million dirhams to provide financial support for these social projects,” Today Morocco reports.

We also learn that, in addition to technical, administrative, and financial assistance, the ‘ANDA has established three educational farms in Dakhla, Agadir, and Ras Al Ma to provide a theoretical and practical training program in the aquaculture profession for the benefit of young entrepreneurs and cooperatives in partnership with the Department of Maritime Fisheries.

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