A New Invasive Species in Northern Morocco is Threatening Ecosystems
-
Loading... - Azoulay Nadia
- 24 Apr 2023
- 60 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
There is an unwelcome guest in the seas of northern Morocco. It migrated from its native strip of the American continent to enjoy the Mediterranean coast. It threatens ecosystems, is gluttonous, predatory, dominant and exerts strong pressure on various fish and shellfish. It consumes living and dead organisms. It is the blue crab, or Callinectes sapidus.
The date of its first appearance in Moroccan coastal waters is unknown, but researchers at the regional center of the National Institute for Research in Marine Fisheries in the city of Nador, northern Morocco, confirmed that it was first observed in August 2017 in Marchika (Nador lagoon). Local fishermen said that it has been caught in their nets since 2018, and that it was also found on the coasts of the city of Tangier in 2020. Since then, it has been fished daily, with daily catches reaching around 30 kilograms in the city of Larache. Each crab can weigh up to 1000 grams in the Mulay Bousselham lagoon. It is sold in the fish markets of Larache, Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca.
A study revealed that the first gathering of blue crabs was recorded in February 2021 in the western coasts of Morocco. It was also found at the mouth of the river Kert and the Moulouya river, west and east of Nador lagoon, respectively. Afterwards, it spread widely in the Larache region of the Loukous valley on the Atlantic coast, where it found favorable conditions for its rapid reproduction. Read More…
