Publications

The present study analyses and reviews the literature on plastic pollution and the background knowledge about marine plastic pollution in Morocco. Marine activities such as fisheries, tourism, and maritime trade were identified as the main in-situ sources of plastic entering Moroccan coastal waters. The analysis of the results showed that the increasing abundance of plastics in such marine systems causes substantial economic loss to blue economy activities. The lack of data on the quantity of plastic waste entering Moroccan water is a limiting factor for assessing plastic pollution. This highlights the need for a risk assessment and more field investigations to value the weighted impacts of marine activities as generators of plastics on biodiversity and the economy. Implementation of laws and rules forbidding the disposal of plastic waste (PW) in public spaces, mainly beaches and streets, is something that needs attention. Raising awareness of plastic waste management and prioritising improved waste collection, sorting, and management would facilitate Morocco’s establishment and adoption of circular economy strategies. The study also highlights that while implementing management projects and regulatory frameworks for plastic waste, it is mandatory to consider their source and purpose of usage.