Morocco Warns: 22 Beaches Fail Environmental Standards for Safe Swimming

"Out of the 497 sampling stations, only 421 were the subject of a sufficient number of samples for classification. Thus, 382 stations (i.e. 90.74%) were declared to be of microbiological quality in compliance with the requirements of the Moroccan standard NM.03.7.199," states the 2024 report of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development on "the monitoring of the quality of bathing waters and beach sand in the Kingdom".

Thus, 39 stations, or 9.26%, are declared non-compliant for bathing for the year 2023. This, due to the discharge of wastewater, the high concentration of bathers, the lack of hygiene, climate change, and pollution, the report notes, specifying that 22 beaches spread over five coastal regions, namely Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Casablanca-Settat, Souss-Massa and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab are concerned.

To prevent beach pollution, the report recommends strengthening wastewater treatment systems in coastal waters, maintaining and repairing infrastructure and sanitation facilities at beach level, as well as implementing the management measures required in bathing water profiles.

During the presentation of the report on Friday in Rabat, Leila Benali indicated that "the biggest bet" remains the problem of waste, especially plastics (90%), to improve the quality of bathing waters and beaches. The minister did not fail to thank the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection for its "Clean Beaches", "Blue Flag" and "bharblablastic" (plastic-free sea) programs aimed at improving the quality of beaches, adding that a smartphone application (Iplages) has been made available to citizens to determine the quality of bathing waters.