The World Bank has released a report outlining the lessons learned from a technical assistance project advocating the use of marine spatial planning to enhance fisheries conservation and management in Morocco,. This approach involves collaborative decision-making from government bodies to private sector entities and artisanal fishers right from the planning stages. The goal is to ensure that governance decisions are well-informed by current, relevant, and easily accessible data, often represented on maps, facilitating better decision-making for fisheries and livelihoods.
The report, titled “Pioneering Marine Spatial Planning in Morocco: An Opportunity to Articulate Conservation and Development,” serves as a practical demonstration of marine spatial planning in action. The focus is on supporting Morocco’s government in identifying a suitable location for a proposed new marine protected area in Agadir along the Atlantic coastline.
Morocco’s commitment to leading a multisectoral approach is integral to the success of the marine spatial planning process. The active involvement of various stakeholders, including artisanal fishers crucial to the region’s fishing activities, is a key aspect of the government’s strategy.
For the proposed marine protected area in Agadir, a technical advisory team conducted a comprehensive diagnostic analysis, integrating biological, environmental, and economic data. Utilizing a geographic information system (GIS), this data was visually represented in layers on a digitalized map. By adjusting parameters on the map based on stakeholder priorities, the government aims to identify a shortlist of potential marine protected areas. Stakeholders will then collectively choose the most suitable site that aligns with their fishing livelihoods and economic objectives.
The World Bank’s technical assistance has reignited the Government of Morocco’s interest in marine spatial planning as a context-sensitive tool for co-managing natural resources. The report not only highlights the success of the Agadir marine-protected area project but also outlines next steps for Morocco, including a tool to scale up marine spatial planning for future endeavours.
