15
Acosta et al., 2020). it is the global case that the world's population, which is in a state of
accelerating loss of forest, aquatic, and marine ecosystems at all scales (World Resources
Institute, 2000; Gibbs et al., 2010; Mauchamp et al., 2012; Shaffer et al., 2019; Attenborough;
2020; Augustine et al., 2021; WWF, 2022). Indeed, marine environments are not exempted
from anthropogenic impacts, particularly fish stocks, which are overexploited. Overfishing of
high commercial value species puts the Mediterranean fisheries second after the South Pacific
in terms of an unsustainable catch of the stock, with a percentage of 63.4% (FAO, 2022).
Mediterranean regions are already vulnerable due to the increase in water temperature and
the introduction of non-indigenous species that can have a substantial impact on the
development and food security of the coastal populations, particularly in the South and SouthEast fisheries of developing countries (UNEP/EEA, 1999; Molnar et al., 2008; FAO, 2019; FAO,
2020; Stergiou et al., 2016; EEA, 2022; Zenetos et al., 2022). Furthermore, southern
Mediterranean countries are in dire straits due to human expansion and related activities
(industry, agriculture, aquaculture), whose ecological consequences include the loss of forest
areas and natural habitats, the degradation of water quality due to the increase of sediments,
and the eutrophication of coastal waters (UNEP/MAP, 2015; Akubia, 2016; Gianni, 2016).
Algeria is similar as its coastline, which represents only 4% of the national territory, hosts
about two-thirds of the population (Meghfour Kacemi & Tabet Aoul, 2007; Kacemi, 2008;
2011; Bouroumi, 2018; Rabehi et al., 2019). As a matter of fact, the urbanization trend’s
studies describe the percentage of the urban population in Algeria as comparable to that of
European countries at over 70% (Reiffers et al., 2014; MAE, 2019; UNDSA, 2020). The latter is
a result of population migration to large urban cities such as Algiers, Oran, and Constantine
due to the convergence of permanent activities such as civil service, commerce, and industry
(Kacemi, 2011; Reiffers et al., 2014) and seasonal activities such as coastal tourism (Lakhal,
2018; Meghfour Kacemi &Tabet Aoul, 2007).
The increasing demand for space encourages the implementation and construction of
dwellings that are still considered below the need, thus inducing unplanned construction since
the 70s (CAHF, 2021). Consequently, since 2014, the Algerian governmental authorities have
attempted to overcome this issue by developing several housing programs and the creation
of new cities (Hassi Messaoud, Sidi Abdellah, El Ménéaa, Boughezoul, Bouinan) with a total
area of urbanization of more than 9 000 hectares to meet the demand and decrease the
pressure on specific urban centers such as Algiers (CAHF., 2021; NUA., 2021; MHUV., 2022).
These efforts are also supported by improved access to essential public services (electricity,
gas, water, sanitation, and telecommunications) at a rate of 100% for water supply in urban
areas, 91% for sanitation, 99% for electricity (3355 households), 65% for natural gas (11565
households), and fuel products (2986 households) (CDER, 2015; NUA, 2021; MHUV, 2022).
However, considering its international engagements, the country is held to attribute more
attention and integrate the environmental component into its development projects. Indeed,
Algeria counts an important range of international, regional, and national ratified conventions
for protecting the environment. Moreover, the Paris agreement, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change ratified in 1993 (UNFCCC), and the Kyoto Protocol
requires the country to focus on greenhouse gas emissions, primarily CO2 resulting from the
Acosta et al., 2020). it is the global case that the world's population, which is in a state of
accelerating loss of forest, aquatic, and marine ecosystems at all scales (World Resources
Institute, 2000; Gibbs et al., 2010; Mauchamp et al., 2012; Shaffer et al., 2019; Attenborough;
2020; Augustine et al., 2021; WWF, 2022). Indeed, marine environments are not exempted
from anthropogenic impacts, particularly fish stocks, which are overexploited. Overfishing of
high commercial value species puts the Mediterranean fisheries second after the South Pacific
in terms of an unsustainable catch of the stock, with a percentage of 63.4% (FAO, 2022).
Mediterranean regions are already vulnerable due to the increase in water temperature and
the introduction of non-indigenous species that can have a substantial impact on the
development and food security of the coastal populations, particularly in the South and SouthEast fisheries of developing countries (UNEP/EEA, 1999; Molnar et al., 2008; FAO, 2019; FAO,
2020; Stergiou et al., 2016; EEA, 2022; Zenetos et al., 2022). Furthermore, southern
Mediterranean countries are in dire straits due to human expansion and related activities
(industry, agriculture, aquaculture), whose ecological consequences include the loss of forest
areas and natural habitats, the degradation of water quality due to the increase of sediments,
and the eutrophication of coastal waters (UNEP/MAP, 2015; Akubia, 2016; Gianni, 2016).
Algeria is similar as its coastline, which represents only 4% of the national territory, hosts
about two-thirds of the population (Meghfour Kacemi & Tabet Aoul, 2007; Kacemi, 2008;
2011; Bouroumi, 2018; Rabehi et al., 2019). As a matter of fact, the urbanization trend’s
studies describe the percentage of the urban population in Algeria as comparable to that of
European countries at over 70% (Reiffers et al., 2014; MAE, 2019; UNDSA, 2020). The latter is
a result of population migration to large urban cities such as Algiers, Oran, and Constantine
due to the convergence of permanent activities such as civil service, commerce, and industry
(Kacemi, 2011; Reiffers et al., 2014) and seasonal activities such as coastal tourism (Lakhal,
2018; Meghfour Kacemi &Tabet Aoul, 2007).
The increasing demand for space encourages the implementation and construction of
dwellings that are still considered below the need, thus inducing unplanned construction since
the 70s (CAHF, 2021). Consequently, since 2014, the Algerian governmental authorities have
attempted to overcome this issue by developing several housing programs and the creation
of new cities (Hassi Messaoud, Sidi Abdellah, El Ménéaa, Boughezoul, Bouinan) with a total
area of urbanization of more than 9 000 hectares to meet the demand and decrease the
pressure on specific urban centers such as Algiers (CAHF., 2021; NUA., 2021; MHUV., 2022).
These efforts are also supported by improved access to essential public services (electricity,
gas, water, sanitation, and telecommunications) at a rate of 100% for water supply in urban
areas, 91% for sanitation, 99% for electricity (3355 households), 65% for natural gas (11565
households), and fuel products (2986 households) (CDER, 2015; NUA, 2021; MHUV, 2022).
However, considering its international engagements, the country is held to attribute more
attention and integrate the environmental component into its development projects. Indeed,
Algeria counts an important range of international, regional, and national ratified conventions
for protecting the environment. Moreover, the Paris agreement, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change ratified in 1993 (UNFCCC), and the Kyoto Protocol
requires the country to focus on greenhouse gas emissions, primarily CO2 resulting from the