Evaluation of the Water Quality of Dakhla Bay (South Morocco): Qualification and Classification According to the European Methodology

Abstract

: Dakhla bay has become a center of socio-economic interest in southern Morocco due to its geographical location and its biological richness. During the last decade, several projects have been installed and the exploitation of this ecological niche has increased. Faced with this situation, it was necessary to assess the quality of the waters of Dakhla bay and determine its current ecological status. To do this, the European method established by the Water Framework Directive (2000) was adopted and adapted to Dakhla bay. The results of the evaluation showed that this bay has areas sensitive to chemical contamination and others affected by eutrophication. These ecological disturbances are due to Human activities and/or natural phenomena. The objective of this study is to contribute to the development of a methodology to evaluate the ecological status of a marine ecosystem and apply it to Dakhla bay. The results are presented in the form of a matrix of areas at Risk of Non-Respect of Environmental Objectives (RNREO) and measures that could mitigate these risks.