Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 NM): N/A
- Exclusive Economic Zone: approximately 1 200 000 km²
Strategic documents related to MSP
- National Strategy for Sustainable Development
- National Coastal Plan
- Regional coastal schemes (in progress)
- Institutionalization of the National Commission for Integrated Coastal Management
- Ongoing institutionalization of the Regional Commissions for Integrated Coastal Management
- Decree N° 2.18.722 on fisheries development and management plans (2019)
- Decrees on fisheries and coastal resources management plans
- Decrees on Marine Protected Areas
- Decrees on artificial reefs
- Department of Maritime Fisheries
Technical resources related to MSP
Relevant MSP projects
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management project in the region of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (in progress)
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management project in the region of L’Oriental (completed)
- “Coast Without Plastic” project with the World Bank (in progress)
- Mission of the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water/Directorate of Ports and Public Maritime Domain
- Mission of the Ministry of Urban Planning and Land Development
- National Plan for Integrated Coastal Management and regional coastal schemes
- Scheme for the development of the maritime public domain
- Port of Nador West Mediterranean
- MSPglobal – Transboundary pilot in the Western Mediterranean (2018-2021)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Offshore renewable energy | Oil and gas |
| Ports | Shipping |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture |
| Cables and pipelines | Scientific research |
| Nature conservation | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage | Coastal protection |
| Radars |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Plan name to be defined |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National, sub-national, local |
Pre-planning |
Status: Underway |
Assessments for planning |
Status: N/A |
Plan development
|
Status: N/A |
Plan completion
|
Status: N/A |
Plan approval
|
Status: N/A |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review
|
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
There are numerous plans which fall under the responsibility of different departments according to their attributions and the vocation of the project |
Governmental funding |
Budget allocated to each entity for a specific project |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-Private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
The country’s vision for MSP covers the entire Moroccan maritime territory |
Time required to complete the planning document |
N/A |
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Department of Maritime Fisheries – INRH-ANDA; Directorate of Ports and Public Maritime Domain; National Ports Agency; Marsa Maroc; Merchant Navy Directorate; Department of the Environment; National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines; Department of Land Use Planning; Department of Tourism; Royal Mounted Police; Royal Navy; universities; local authorities; regional councils; etc. |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
N/A |
Sectors included in planning |
N/A |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
N/A |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
N/A |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
N/A |
Plan approval process |
N/A |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
N/A |
Plan review process |
N/A |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
N/A |
Legal framework
Morocco has no legislation on MSP; however, Law 81-12 related to the coastline (promulgated in 2015) aims to establish the principles and fundamental rules of sustainable integrated management of the coastline for its protection, development and conservation.
In accordance with the provisions of this law, the National Coastal Plan covers the 12 nautical miles in addition to the land side and engages all stakeholders to be involved in spatial maritime planning.
Contact
There is no one entity dedicated for MSP; however, there are entities and departments, each specialized in a particular component and whose missions complement each other. Synergies between these entities take place both horizontally and vertically.