This study provides a first estimate of the offshore wind power potential along the Moroccan Atlantic shelf based on remotely sensed data. An in-depth knowledge of wind potential characteristics allows assessment of the offshore wind energy project. Based on consistent daily satellite data retrieved from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) spanning the period from 2008 to 2017, the seasonal wind characteristics were statistically analyzed using the climatological Weibull distribution functions and an assessment of the Moroccan potential coastal wind energy resources was qualitatively analyzed across a range of sites likely to be suitable for possible exploitation. Also, an atlas of wind power density (WPD) at a height of 80 m was provided for the whole Moroccan coast. An examination of the bathymetrical conditions of the study area was carried out since bathymetry is among the primary factors that need to be examined with the wind potential during offshore wind project planning. The results were presented based on the average wind intensity and the prevailing direction, and also the wind power density was shown at monthly, seasonal and interannual time scale. The analysis indicated that the coastal wind regime of the southern area of Morocco has the greatest energy potential, with an average power density which can reach in some places a value around 450 W/m2 at heights of 10 m and 80 m above sea level (a.s.l) (wind turbine hub height) more particularly in the south of the country.

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In the Canary Current System (CCS), coherent structures and concurrent movements of surface waters such as meanders, filaments and eddies strongly control the ocean bio-optical proprieties response to the coastal upwelling process. One of the outstanding problems is to understand the mechanisms of the bio-optical proprieties transfer and the connection mechanism between the coastal band and the ocean interior. We use a combination of satellite data and derived mesoscale indicators to provide a comprehensive view of the relationship between the physical and bio-optical proprieties off Moroccan upwelling region (part of the CCS) in terms of wind impulse responsible of sea turbulence, sea surface temperature (SST) response of the wind stress and ocean color proprieties considered as bio-optical ocean proxy response. To optimize the predicted ranges of these parameters, Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was applied. We conclude that the energetic mesoscales structures as seen from the satellite climatology observations can provide insight into dominant transport pathways controlling the bio-optical exchange from the coastal area to the ocean interior structured as an oceanic corridor connecting the Moroccan area to the Canary archipelagos.

Marine aquaculture has proliferated over the past decade, expanding into new, untapped open-water cultivation areas, such as lakes, rivers and deeper offshore environments, in response to increasing demand for seafood by consumers. However, to ensure sustainable development, it is necessary to minimize the impact of other ocean activities and the environment through science-based spatial planning. The choice of the primary site (physical carrying capacity) depends mainly on the aquaculture system, which varies around the world. However, the site is considered one of the factors (production, ecological and social) keys to any aquaculture operation, especially in the African continent. This choice affects both the success and sustainability of the products cultivated and the resolution of conflicts between different activities as well as the rational use of space. This study aims to identify suitable areas (primary site selection) for aquaculture in the Moroccan Atlantic continental shelf focused on the sub-area located between Cap Ghir 31.25∘ and Tarfaya 27.47∘, based on the assessment of the dominant wave energy by implementing the hydrodynamical SWAN (Simulating Waves Nearshore) model dedicated for this kind of study. We derived the inputs for the SWAN model from WW3 (WAVEWATCH III model), which the AVISO data-products have extensively validated. The results show that, even if the Atlantic area is known for the agitation of its seas, there is the possibility of having adequate areas for aquaculture with an overall capacity that could extinguish the 389 ha in the study area if aquatic cultivation manages to exploit the offshore areas. At the level of the sub-zone belonging to the sous-Massa region (zone 1), the results show a strong coherence between the values of the surfaces estimated by the study and the actual values resulting from the development plan, with a value of 69 Ha for the first and 75 for the second, i.e., equal to 6 Ha, due to the geomorphology of the coast and natural coastal shelters, which play favorably on the environment for aquaculture development. These areas may attract the greed of investors, although they are in the process of being the subject of an aquaculture development plan.