Rising marine debris threatens Morocco’s coasts ahead of peak tourist season

Environmental activists are warning of increasing marine pollution as summer approaches, after volunteer divers collected more than 520 kilograms of debris from Agadir’s seabed during a recent cleanup campaign.

Seabed pollution is emerging as a growing environmental challenge along Morocco’s coasts, driven by alarming levels of wood and plastic accumulation, particularly ahead of the summer season.

Research published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin indicates that most waste collected from Moroccan seabeds consists of plastic litter, largely due to poor waste management and insufficient recycling measures.

Another study, titled “Microplastic pollution along the central Atlantic coastline of Morocco,” conducted by students at Ibn Zohr University, focused on Agadir’s coast and seabed. It found that some local beaches rank among the “most polluted beach environments worldwide” in terms of microplastic concentration, with densities reaching up to 30,000 microplastic particles per liter of seawater and 34,200 per kilogram of sand.

The study also indicates that local valleys significantly contribute to the transport of waste to the seabed, particularly during floods, as seen earlier this year in Morocco.

Rising volumes of debris are affecting marine biodiversity, ecosystems and tourism.

In response, the Sea Lovers Association for Spearfishing and Environmental Protection organized the eighth edition of the “Blue Dolphin” initiative on Agadir’s main beach on May 6, combining environmental awareness with direct intervention.

Speaking to Hespress English, the association’s president, Othman Ablagh, said: “The objective of the initiative is to affirm our ongoing commitment to protecting the maritime environment despite pollution and climate challenges.”

He added that while many cleanup initiatives target streets and beaches, few focus on the seabed, where only divers can fully grasp the scale of the problem—unlike beachgoers—highlighting the importance of such efforts.

Ablagh said 86 participants took part in this year’s edition, most of them young volunteers. More than 80% of the waste collected consisted of plastic, abandoned nets and wood.

According to Ablagh, most of the waste originates from five valleys that flow into the city’s beach, carrying inland debris into the sea, particularly during floods, in addition to waste generated by ships. The continued accumulation of debris threatens Morocco’s marine biodiversity and ecological balance.

“The current environmental state of Moroccan waters is very worrying,” Ablagh said, calling for urgent government intervention, stricter enforcement measures against polluters and increased awareness campaigns targeting beachgoers during the summer season. He added that the issue has evolved into a structural coastal challenge rather than isolated cases of polluted beaches.

Alongside seabed cleanups, the association also organizes school workshops, recycling activities and environmental awareness campaigns aimed at children and young people. “Environmental protection depends on our daily behavior,” he said, emphasizing that small changes can help reduce the volume of waste reaching the sea.

The study further notes that the summer season exacerbates marine pollution along Morocco’s coasts, as increased tourism and maritime activities raise pollution levels and place additional pressure on already fragile ecosystems.