Sustainable coastal management has now become a strategic priority for Morocco. Meeting in Rabat on Wednesday as part of the National Integrated Coastal Management Commission, the Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to structuring and strengthening governance of its coasts, in accordance with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
With 3,500 kilometers of coastline along the Atlantic and Mediterranean shores, Morocco boasts significant natural and economic heritage. This coastal stretch harbors rich ecosystems and supports strategic sectors such as fishing, aquaculture, tourism, industry, port infrastructure, seawater desalination, and renewable energies.
According to the minister, these activities account for 83% of the national Gross Domestic Product, while more than half of the Kingdom’s population resides in coastal areas. This concentration heightens demographic and socio-economic pressures, exacerbated by the effects of climate change.
In the face of these challenges, Leila Benali advocated for an integrated approach based on improved coordination of sectoral policies and strengthened governance mechanisms. She recalled, in this regard, the directives from the Royal Speech of October 2025, which call for the optimal activation of existing legal tools, including the coastal law and the National Coastal Plan (PNL).
Adopted in 2015, Law No. 81-12 related to the coast constitutes the legislative foundation of this strategy. Two draft decrees are currently under review by the General Secretariat of the government. The first addresses the maximum limits of liquid discharges and the associated fee system. The second concerns the conditions for granting and renewing permits for the extraction of sand and materials from dune systems.
On the planning front, the National Coastal Plan, adopted in 2022 for a ten-year period, defines the strategic directions for the protection and enhancement of coastal areas. Its implementation is aligned with several sectoral strategies, including “Halieutis,” the National Port Strategy towards 2030, and the national strategies for energy, industrial, and water transition.
The minister also emphasized the expansion of marine protected areas. She stated that reaching the target of 30% protected zones could allow for an increase in fish biomass of up to 500%, thereby enhancing the sustainability of resources and adding value for local communities.
This direction fits within a broader vision of a low-carbon blue economy, in line with the Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the commitment of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa to environmental protection.
On the territorial level, five regional coastal schemes are currently being developed, while the remaining four are expected to be finalized by 2026. The meeting notably presented the regional scheme project for Guelmim-Oued Noun, the first submitted to the Commission. It revolves around five strategic objectives, broken down into 17 operational goals and more than 40 projects.
The discussions also included a monitoring report based on 25 governance, environmental, and socio-economic indicators, intended to be presented to the government soon.
Through these various instruments, the authorities aim to consolidate a coastal management model that reconciles economic development, ecosystem preservation, and climate resilience.