The Moroccan Ichtyoplankton - A General Overview
Diouri Lamia *
Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Morocco and National Institute of Marine Research, Casablanca, Morocco.
Soukri Abdelaziz
Physiopathology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Morocco.
Abdelouahab Hinde
National Institute of Marine Research, Casablanca, Morocco.
Malki Mohamed
Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Morocco.
Baibai Tarik
National Institute of Marine Research, Casablanca, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Morocco is one of the most important seafood producing countries. In consideration of its advantageous geographical location in addition to the biodiversity and richness that characterise these halieutic resources, the small pelagic fishes represent 75% of the halieutic harvest, with a domination of S. pilchardus. Regarding the sustainability and protection of the marine species, the study of ichthyoplankton is an essential and crucial step, through the use of classical identification techniques under binocular lenses combined with molecular biology tools based on genetic markers as well as an integrated image analysis system, the ZooScan. The present work is the subject of an overview of the study of ichthyoplankton on the two Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Morocco.
Keywords: Biodiversity, ichtyoplankton, classical identification, genetic markers, ZooScan.