MOROCCO’S TOURISM INDUSTRY AND COASTLINES JEOPARDISED BY ILLEGAL SAND MINING

WHILE MOROCCO’S beaches are a great attraction for tourism, the construction companies responsible for erecting the infrastructure to support the industry, such as new hotels and roads, are struggling to meet the demand for building materials. As sand accounts for four-fifths of industrial cement used for concrete, the illicit mining of sand from Morocco’s coast is rising, putting coastal ecosystems at risk. Indeed, it is estimated that half of the sand used each year in Morocco’s construction industry has been illegally mined, particularly along the western seaboard. Although specific laws have been implemented in the past to combat this significant issue, those dependent on tourism and the Moroccan coastline recognise the need for further reforms.