Tackling marine plastic pollution in Morocco: A review of current research, regulatory measures, and future challenges

Abstract

This review provides a critical analysis of all the available literature on plastic pollution in Morocco's marine environment between 2014 and 2023. It discusses the abundance, composition, and sources of plastic litter, the adopted sampling methods, and characterizations, as well as the impact on the biota and ecosystem services. Moreover, it also covers national marine litter management policies. Our analysis reveals that, up to this point, there have been limited studies conducted and a noticeable scarcity of data, particularly pertaining to the prevalence of microplastics in marine biota, sediment and water. While many of the studies have been conducted in diverse coastal regions of the Mediterranean (60 %), the Atlantic coasts remain largely unexplored (40 %). Data from various studies indicate that plastic litter persists as a significant issue along Moroccan coasts (53–94 % of total litter collected), with reported litter (0.58 items/m2) and microplastic densities (7680 MPs/kg to 34,200 MPs/kg) generally surpassing those in neighboring countries. Plastic litter poses a considerable threat to Moroccan biodiversity, primarily through ingestion (16 species) and entanglement (18 species). This review can serve as a valuable resource to inform strategies aimed at reducing the leakage of plastic litter into aquatic environments, as well as to guide future research.