HIBAPRESS – Abdel Latif Baraka
Naval gendarmes, in coordination with the services of the Directorate of Maritime Fishing in El Jadida, managed to seize approximately three tons of seaweed known locally as "Arabiya" inside a warehouse in the commune of Moulay Abdellah, during a sweep operation aimed at combating illegal activities related to the exploitation of marine resources.
Following this operation, the competent authorities initiated the legal procedures in place by drawing up reports regarding the possession of the seaweed subject to the violation and referring the files to the concerned authorities to take the necessary measures. The seized quantity was also handed over to the territorially competent Directorate of Maritime Fishing for management of its status according to the procedures in force.
This operation falls within the framework of efforts to intensify monitoring of the coasts of the El Jadida province and to limit the illegal exploitation of the red seaweed species "Gelidium," which is an important marine resource from both economic and environmental perspectives, especially during periods designated for biological rest.
The continuation of some violating practices, according to observers of maritime affairs, raises concerns about the depletion of the natural stock of this seaweed and the damage to efforts to regulate its exploitation. These practices, according to the available data, include various methods of collecting seaweed and transporting it away from the eyes of surveillance, which threatens the renewal of marine resources and affects the environmental balance of the coasts.
The repercussions of illegal exploitation are not limited to the environmental aspect but extend to the economic and social dimensions, given that this activity is linked to the livelihoods of a number of professionals working in the sector according to legal regulations. Red seaweed is also used in multiple industrial applications, giving it an economic value that requires rational management to ensure its continued exploitation.
