36.5 psu in Gibraltar to 38.0–38.3 psu in the northwest Mediterranean. The average
temperature of the Atlantic water along the Algerian coast is 20.5
C; it is between
10.8 and 15.5
C in winter and between 20 and over 24
C in summer (Zemenzer
2011).
20.5.1 History and Progression of Aquaculture
Aquaculture in Algeria began in 1920 in the Mellah lagoon (8
20
0 E, 36
54’N)
through the installation of a system of weirs (bordigues) to extensive aquaculture.
After some decades, in 1980, an extensive aquaculture based on the stocking and
restocking of a hundred inland water bodies with imported species, mainly Cyprinids
from Hungary, was developed. Current aquaculture deals with intensive fish farming
(sea bass and sea bream in cage and pond) and shellfish farming (mussels and
oysters) (Kara et al. 2016). A ministry responsible for fisheries and aquaculture
was created in 2000. Several public aquaculture projects have been planned for
demonstration purposes and to support production, and private projects are also
underway for the establishment of marine and inland shellfish and fish farming
businesses.
In 2005, a plan for the development of aquaculture through to 2025, with a
production target of 53,000 tons a year, was published. A total of 450 favorable
sites for both marine and freshwater aquaculture have been identified and distributed
across 9 branches of aquaculture: tuna fattening, shellfish farming, marine fish
farming, crustacean culture, exploitation of natural resources, continental fishing,
freshwater fish farming, seaweed aquaculture, and ornamental fish farming (MPRH
2008). This master plan also addresses environmental considerations, as well as
possible land use conflicts, so that several of the selected sites of interest for
aquaculture are located in tourism development areas and protected areas (marine
parks, marine reserves) or near hydraulic structures. The goal is to harmonize land
use to ensure the sustainable development of the industry (IUCN 2009).
20.5.2 Current State and Overview
Algerian aquaculture has grown from an average of about 300 t between 2000 and
2007 to an average of 2300 t beyond 2008 (Fig. 20.20). Most of this production
comes from inland fisheries with around 60% in 2014. The contribution of shellfish
farming remains low, while intensive fish farming is growing positively, particularly
with regard to its marine component.
According to the Directorate General of Fisheries (DGF) of Algeria, in 2016, of
the 43 recorded shellfish aquaculture projects, 15 were active with a production
capacity of 1650 t and an effective production of only 31 t. The number of marine
finfish aquaculture projects submitted was 130, of which 10 were active with a
698
A. Ortega et al.
temperature of the Atlantic water along the Algerian coast is 20.5
C; it is between
10.8 and 15.5
C in winter and between 20 and over 24
C in summer (Zemenzer
2011).
20.5.1 History and Progression of Aquaculture
Aquaculture in Algeria began in 1920 in the Mellah lagoon (8
20
0 E, 36
54’N)
through the installation of a system of weirs (bordigues) to extensive aquaculture.
After some decades, in 1980, an extensive aquaculture based on the stocking and
restocking of a hundred inland water bodies with imported species, mainly Cyprinids
from Hungary, was developed. Current aquaculture deals with intensive fish farming
(sea bass and sea bream in cage and pond) and shellfish farming (mussels and
oysters) (Kara et al. 2016). A ministry responsible for fisheries and aquaculture
was created in 2000. Several public aquaculture projects have been planned for
demonstration purposes and to support production, and private projects are also
underway for the establishment of marine and inland shellfish and fish farming
businesses.
In 2005, a plan for the development of aquaculture through to 2025, with a
production target of 53,000 tons a year, was published. A total of 450 favorable
sites for both marine and freshwater aquaculture have been identified and distributed
across 9 branches of aquaculture: tuna fattening, shellfish farming, marine fish
farming, crustacean culture, exploitation of natural resources, continental fishing,
freshwater fish farming, seaweed aquaculture, and ornamental fish farming (MPRH
2008). This master plan also addresses environmental considerations, as well as
possible land use conflicts, so that several of the selected sites of interest for
aquaculture are located in tourism development areas and protected areas (marine
parks, marine reserves) or near hydraulic structures. The goal is to harmonize land
use to ensure the sustainable development of the industry (IUCN 2009).
20.5.2 Current State and Overview
Algerian aquaculture has grown from an average of about 300 t between 2000 and
2007 to an average of 2300 t beyond 2008 (Fig. 20.20). Most of this production
comes from inland fisheries with around 60% in 2014. The contribution of shellfish
farming remains low, while intensive fish farming is growing positively, particularly
with regard to its marine component.
According to the Directorate General of Fisheries (DGF) of Algeria, in 2016, of
the 43 recorded shellfish aquaculture projects, 15 were active with a production
capacity of 1650 t and an effective production of only 31 t. The number of marine
finfish aquaculture projects submitted was 130, of which 10 were active with a
698
A. Ortega et al.