This visit, organized by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, in coordination with the Regional Academy of Education and Training of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (AREF-TTA), aims to enable students to move closer to the efforts made to develop spat production techniques, with a view to preserving marine resources and reducing pressure on fishery resources.
During this educational visit, the 30 primary and middle school students received explanations about this center, carried out as part of a cooperation project between Morocco and Japan, including several scientific and experimental units for the production of spat, as well as the first shellfish hatchery center at the national level, supervised by a team of researchers and engineers specializing in marine biology.
In a statement to MAP, the regional coordinator of AREF-TTA’s environmental education and sustainable development programs, Azzedine El Mounsi, stressed that this visit is part of the overall program developed by the Mohammed Foundation VI for environmental protection, in coordination with the Academy and in partnership with INRH, to commemorate World Oceans Day, with a view to allowing students to discover the scientific facilities and laboratories of this important center in nationally.
He added that this visit is important for the students, as it allowed them to become aware of the efforts made by government sectors, both for the preservation of the environment and for the promotion of the blue economy.
This project, which is part of bilateral cooperation between the governments of Morocco and Japan, was carried out thanks to funding in the form of a non-repayable donation of 100 million dirhams, granted by the Japanese Cooperation Agency international (JICA). It constitutes a first step allowing Morocco to achieve the objectives set for this sector by 2030.
The Center is made up of the 1st experimental Moroccan research shellfish hatchery and a pilot shellfish farm in Amsa Bay. Operational since September 2018, this station covers an area of 7,000 m2, with a maritime part located on a 2 ha plot off the bay.
This center is the second of its kind at the national level after that of Dakhla, and the first spat production center at the national level, which in addition to its function as a research center, works for the production and supply of professionals in raw materials.