production which, although small, has ensured farm viability, enhanced sales on the
national market, and overcame difficulties and constraints related to the two inputs
import (fry and feed).
The phase of 2006–2010 was very critical but also very important for the survival
of the only fish culture farm still being in operation on the Mediterranean coast of
Morocco. This is important because there were other fish farms (Marost, SAM, and
Doraloup) which ceased their activities. Aqua-M’diq has considered sea bass as its
flagship product although it has attempted other fish species production such as sea
bream and meagre. The results obtained for sea bream were less important compared
to sea bass, notably in terms of growth. Sea bass seems to be more suitable for
breeding in M’diq Bay than sea bream, mainly especially with regard to the local
thermal profile.
In general, the annual production average of Aqua-M’diq in terms of sea bass, as
the main produced fish species, is about 100 t during the period from 1999 to 2015,
with a maximum of 181 t registered in 2015.
In April 2006, another aquaculture farm named “Mejilloneras Del Norte” (MDN)
was created. It was located in the northern area of M’diq bay, and it cultured mussel
(Mytilus galloprovincialis) in floating structures (rafts).
This mussel farm had a concession divided into two close areas, but they both
were managed as one area. A total of seven floating rafts were installed. They
consisted of two metal floats (big tanks) connected by a quadrant of 13x13 m in
dimensions and composed of metal bars and wood (Fig. 20.18). The wooden bars
served as support for the mussel ropes. A floating raft was able to support up to
80 mussel ropes of 12 m long each. The production capacity of this mussel farm was
around 250 t of mussels. However, the production achieved (in terms of sold
quantities) was only a few tonnes.
The commercial fund of this shellfish farm was sold to another company called
“Mediterranean Aquaculture Company” or “MAC” in an abbreviated version. However, the site used for mussel farming was abandoned for expropriation reasons
(of public utility purposes). But as the northern area of M’diq Bay was reserved as an
anchorage area for merchant ships waiting for Tangier-Med port clearance, the
company was asked to relocate its mussel farming structures.
Mussel farming was also the subject of an experimental project in Cala Iris bay in
2011. This bay is located in the south of Al Hoceima, in the central part of the
Mediterranean coasts of Morocco. This project was implemented in joint cooperation between INRH, Japanese Agency for International Cooperation (JICA), DPM,
and artisanal fishing cooperative of Cala Iris. In fact, due to the socioeconomic
importance of marine aquaculture, this cooperative was interested in mussel farming.
Mussels exist naturally in this area. An experimental trial of mussel culture was first
undertaken in Cala Iris bay and has yielded very encouraging results. The adopted
culture technique in Cala Iris bay was based on the suspension culture system under
floating longlines, which gave satisfactory results at the pilot production scale.
Currently, the cooperative is making necessary administrative procedures to move
this project from the experimental phase to a commercial phase, with an expected
production target of 40 t. Despite the weakness of this production, artisanal
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
693
national market, and overcame difficulties and constraints related to the two inputs
import (fry and feed).
The phase of 2006–2010 was very critical but also very important for the survival
of the only fish culture farm still being in operation on the Mediterranean coast of
Morocco. This is important because there were other fish farms (Marost, SAM, and
Doraloup) which ceased their activities. Aqua-M’diq has considered sea bass as its
flagship product although it has attempted other fish species production such as sea
bream and meagre. The results obtained for sea bream were less important compared
to sea bass, notably in terms of growth. Sea bass seems to be more suitable for
breeding in M’diq Bay than sea bream, mainly especially with regard to the local
thermal profile.
In general, the annual production average of Aqua-M’diq in terms of sea bass, as
the main produced fish species, is about 100 t during the period from 1999 to 2015,
with a maximum of 181 t registered in 2015.
In April 2006, another aquaculture farm named “Mejilloneras Del Norte” (MDN)
was created. It was located in the northern area of M’diq bay, and it cultured mussel
(Mytilus galloprovincialis) in floating structures (rafts).
This mussel farm had a concession divided into two close areas, but they both
were managed as one area. A total of seven floating rafts were installed. They
consisted of two metal floats (big tanks) connected by a quadrant of 13x13 m in
dimensions and composed of metal bars and wood (Fig. 20.18). The wooden bars
served as support for the mussel ropes. A floating raft was able to support up to
80 mussel ropes of 12 m long each. The production capacity of this mussel farm was
around 250 t of mussels. However, the production achieved (in terms of sold
quantities) was only a few tonnes.
The commercial fund of this shellfish farm was sold to another company called
“Mediterranean Aquaculture Company” or “MAC” in an abbreviated version. However, the site used for mussel farming was abandoned for expropriation reasons
(of public utility purposes). But as the northern area of M’diq Bay was reserved as an
anchorage area for merchant ships waiting for Tangier-Med port clearance, the
company was asked to relocate its mussel farming structures.
Mussel farming was also the subject of an experimental project in Cala Iris bay in
2011. This bay is located in the south of Al Hoceima, in the central part of the
Mediterranean coasts of Morocco. This project was implemented in joint cooperation between INRH, Japanese Agency for International Cooperation (JICA), DPM,
and artisanal fishing cooperative of Cala Iris. In fact, due to the socioeconomic
importance of marine aquaculture, this cooperative was interested in mussel farming.
Mussels exist naturally in this area. An experimental trial of mussel culture was first
undertaken in Cala Iris bay and has yielded very encouraging results. The adopted
culture technique in Cala Iris bay was based on the suspension culture system under
floating longlines, which gave satisfactory results at the pilot production scale.
Currently, the cooperative is making necessary administrative procedures to move
this project from the experimental phase to a commercial phase, with an expected
production target of 40 t. Despite the weakness of this production, artisanal
20 Aquaculture in the Alboran Sea
693