Started in 1948, the harvesting of red algae in Morocco experienced such rapid growth that the Kingdom was for a time the world's leading exporter. However, this overexploitation endangered the existence of the species, forcing the relevant authorities to limit its harvest. Collected during the three summer months on a small part of the Atlantic coast, this plant allows for the production of "agar agar", a vegetable gelling agent used notably in the making of jams or cosmetics, which has seen significant development in recent years, particularly in Europe, to the point of causing massive overexploitation, especially in the El Jadida region. "Always more divers, always just as few red algae...", a fisherman on a beach in El Jadida testifies to the AFP.

Morocco, faced with the scarcity of this increasingly coveted "red gold", has taken drastic measures. But the fight will be long. Between 1 July and 30 September, thousands of people turn into fishermen, divers, or gatherers of these red treasures. But this overexploitation endangers the species, which is a victim of its own benefits: "In the 90s and 2000s, we would get up to 500 kilos of red algae per day. But since then, the plant is on the verge of extinction," according to the fisherman interviewed by the AFP. Morocco was long considered the world's leading producer of agar agar, before being overtaken by China and Chile in 2006. Using often obsolete diving equipment, these harvests are perilous: one must sometimes descend to 20 or 25 metres to gather one's meagre daily haul. "Many people come to El Jadida thinking it is an Eldorado. It is not rare to witness the drowning of inexperienced young people," according to the fisherman.

Harvest limited to 6,040 tonnes

Since 2010, a "reference price" for the harvester has been set at 3.25 DH per kilo, as part of the sector's "management plan" decreed as an emergency by the government. Opened to export in 1995, the sector saw a surge in demand. As a result, its resources have seen a dangerous decline since 2005, the year in which 8,500 tonnes of raw products were exported. Faced with this situation, the authorities had to intervene to ensure the survival of the algae, a victim of overexploitation. In 2009, while the harvest peaked at 14,000 tonnes, the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH) had "sounded the alarm", recalls the Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Driouich, to the AFP. "If we had left the situation as it was, there would be no more red algae," assures Ms Driouich, according to whom "the INRH observed a 30% return of the red algae mass as early as 2011". From now on, the total quota is set at 6,040 tonnes, of which 20% is intended for export. The ministry has begun to provide short training courses and licences. Standardised equipment has been given to more than 250 divers. According to a study conducted by the University of El Jadida during 2011 and 2012, the majority of the algae harvested and supplied to the processing industry comes from the maritime zone of El Jadida and Jorf Lasfar. This sector employs 700 people full-time, provides seasonal work to 8,000 people, and generates a turnover of more than 180 million DH

Recommendations of the Specialised Centre for Valorisation and Technology of Marine Products

Raise awareness among the beneficiary population about the importance of the biological rest period and the risk of uprooting the thalli

Regularly monitor marine algae populations and adapt the legislation in force according to current stocks

Encourage local scientific and technical research in the field of algoculture, which could reduce the pressure on the natural resource and represent an interesting source of income for the population of the region

Implement a management plan for better protection and valorisation of the resource.

Encourage the local processing of algae into high value-added products to better valorise the resource.