14The Edge

Summer 2008

is within this perspective that CoastNetmet up with stakeholders in the countryto get a better idea of the currentsituation and possible future actions.

CoastNet’s community project

Local actions with even a limited budgetcan make a huge difference, and itwas with this approach in mind thatthe CoastNet team interviewedstakeholders belonging to nationalresearch institutions, water companies,women business organisations,politicians, fishing associations andtourism organisations. CoastNet agreedthat a key focus for futureaction wouldbe to supportthe artisanal fishingcommunities whose way of life isparticularly vulnerable to the pressuresfor change that they face. Confrontedwith decreasing fish stocks, pressure formass tourism development, migrationfrom the villages to the cities, and loss of natural and cultural heritage they needhelp to adapt, and to capturesome of thebenefits of change for their owncommunity.

Supporting fishing families

and ecotourism in the South Mediterranean

arly this year,thanks to fundingfrom the Big LotteryInternational Small GrantsProgramme, a CoastNet team visitedTetouan, in Northern Morocco,approximately 50 miles from theStrait of Gibraltar.CoastNet’sinterest in the Africancoast of the Mediterranean has grownoutof the Encora Project, which wasextended in 2007 to include aNorth African Encora Network. Withaview to bring further support tocoastal management in this regionCoastNet secured funding from theBig Lottery International SmallGrants programme to gain a betterunderstanding of international effortsin the region to promote sustainabledevelopment. Morocco is one of thecase study areas that we investigatedto understand better the relationshipbetween international guidance, andlocal delivery, and to identifypriorities for future activity.

About Morocco

Morocco is the poorest country of the Mediterranean, having the lowestHDI (Human Development Index).However, it is rich in coastal naturalresources, making it an increasinglypopular destination for tourists andforeign investments in this sector. Arecent government scheme is aiming todouble tourist visits in 10 years whichwould mean an increase from 5 to 10million tourists by 2015.Although therearelocal concernsregarding the environmental pressurefrom mass tourism, the priorities in acountry where 30 per cent of thepopulation are under 15 years old and20 per cent are living under the povertythreshold, put sustainable developmentand climate change understandably atthe bottom of the agenda.Although there is little coordinationbetween local coastal communities,there is a strong interest in workingtogether to defend community rights. It

Manuela de los Rios reports on a CoastNet international project looking at sustainablefishing and ecotourism in Northern Morocco.

Supporting fishing families

and ecotourism in the South Mediterranean