circulation is highly variable due to several reasons (see Chap. 4). In general terms,
temperature and salinity values of the Alboran Sea upper layer are those of the waters
in the Gulf of Cadiz, more or less modified. The degree of modification will depend
on the distance to the Strait of Gibraltar and on the water circulation in the different
areas within the Alboran Sea.
The currents in the Alboran Sea are mainly driven by the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation, which is modulated by the Coriolis force, winds, and bathymetry.
As a result, there is fast Atlantic water current flow in the surface through the Strait of
Gibraltar into the Alboran Sea. Although the speed of this current can be modulated
within the strait by the tidal currents, its average value is around 1 m/s (Perkins et al.
1990).
As it is shown in Chap. 4, salinity is lower in summer and autumn, which means
an increased influence of Atlantic waters. This is in agreement with the higher
difference between temperatures in the Alboran Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea
in those seasons (see Fig. 20.4 of this chapter).
Industrial aquaculture activity in the Alboran Sea began at the end of the 1970s in
Ceuta with a facility devoted to bluefin tuna fattening. After this, in the mid-1980s in
Morocco, another company was established in the coastal lagoon of Nador
(Morocco). This company was initially devoted to the culture of flat oyster (Ostrea
edulis), although shortly after it was diversified to include clam (Ruditapes
decussatus), shrimp (Penaeus kerathurus and Penaeus japonicus), gilthead sea
bream (Sparus aurata), and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
In Spain at the end of the 1980s, two very different projects started: a platform for
fish culture in the bay of Algeciras and a land-based culture facility for brine shrimp
artemia (Artemia salina) and shrimp (Penaeus kerathurus) near Cabo de Gata. Over
the period of the 1990s, other installations to culture sea bream and sea bass were
built along the coast of Granada, while mollusk farming using floating structures and
longlines began in 2000. In recent years, the number of cultured species has
increased (amberjack, sole, octopus, microalgae, anemones, etc.), although most of
them are still in a pre-industrial phase.
Currently there are around 20 aquaculture companies authorized in the Spanish
area of the Alboran Sea, most of them dedicated to the culture of mollusks in the
province of Malaga, although there are also land-based facilities and sea-based cages
for culturing fish. Not all these companies are running, and in 2018 there were
15 companies with activity in that area: 12 facilities for mollusk culture, 2 for fish
culture, and 1 for other species. The main cultured species were sea bass (1500 Tm)
and mussel (close to 800 Tm).
In Morocco 22 facilities dedicated mainly to shellfish culture are running nowadays. According to ANDA, production in Morocco during 2015 was 470 Tm
(oyster and sea bass as the only species). In 2018 in the Alboran Sea, there were
four facilities, one of them culturing sea bass (production of 121 t), two farms
starting commercial production of mussels (there are some problems with regulations restrictions) and with a production of a few tens of tonnes, and the other one
dealing with culturing red algae (Gracilaria gracilis). In Algeria, there are 30 facilities dedicated to 50% fish and 50% mollusks, and 8 of them (3 shellfish farms and
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
661
temperature and salinity values of the Alboran Sea upper layer are those of the waters
in the Gulf of Cadiz, more or less modified. The degree of modification will depend
on the distance to the Strait of Gibraltar and on the water circulation in the different
areas within the Alboran Sea.
The currents in the Alboran Sea are mainly driven by the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation, which is modulated by the Coriolis force, winds, and bathymetry.
As a result, there is fast Atlantic water current flow in the surface through the Strait of
Gibraltar into the Alboran Sea. Although the speed of this current can be modulated
within the strait by the tidal currents, its average value is around 1 m/s (Perkins et al.
1990).
As it is shown in Chap. 4, salinity is lower in summer and autumn, which means
an increased influence of Atlantic waters. This is in agreement with the higher
difference between temperatures in the Alboran Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea
in those seasons (see Fig. 20.4 of this chapter).
Industrial aquaculture activity in the Alboran Sea began at the end of the 1970s in
Ceuta with a facility devoted to bluefin tuna fattening. After this, in the mid-1980s in
Morocco, another company was established in the coastal lagoon of Nador
(Morocco). This company was initially devoted to the culture of flat oyster (Ostrea
edulis), although shortly after it was diversified to include clam (Ruditapes
decussatus), shrimp (Penaeus kerathurus and Penaeus japonicus), gilthead sea
bream (Sparus aurata), and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
In Spain at the end of the 1980s, two very different projects started: a platform for
fish culture in the bay of Algeciras and a land-based culture facility for brine shrimp
artemia (Artemia salina) and shrimp (Penaeus kerathurus) near Cabo de Gata. Over
the period of the 1990s, other installations to culture sea bream and sea bass were
built along the coast of Granada, while mollusk farming using floating structures and
longlines began in 2000. In recent years, the number of cultured species has
increased (amberjack, sole, octopus, microalgae, anemones, etc.), although most of
them are still in a pre-industrial phase.
Currently there are around 20 aquaculture companies authorized in the Spanish
area of the Alboran Sea, most of them dedicated to the culture of mollusks in the
province of Malaga, although there are also land-based facilities and sea-based cages
for culturing fish. Not all these companies are running, and in 2018 there were
15 companies with activity in that area: 12 facilities for mollusk culture, 2 for fish
culture, and 1 for other species. The main cultured species were sea bass (1500 Tm)
and mussel (close to 800 Tm).
In Morocco 22 facilities dedicated mainly to shellfish culture are running nowadays. According to ANDA, production in Morocco during 2015 was 470 Tm
(oyster and sea bass as the only species). In 2018 in the Alboran Sea, there were
four facilities, one of them culturing sea bass (production of 121 t), two farms
starting commercial production of mussels (there are some problems with regulations restrictions) and with a production of a few tens of tonnes, and the other one
dealing with culturing red algae (Gracilaria gracilis). In Algeria, there are 30 facilities dedicated to 50% fish and 50% mollusks, and 8 of them (3 shellfish farms and
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
661