Impact of Climate Change on Sardine Availability in the Al Hoceima Region (Moroccan Mediterranean Coast)

LSIA Laboratory, ENSAH, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco

Abstract

Sardine fisheries represent one of the most important marine resources in the Al Hoceima region located along the Moroccan Mediterranean coast. However, climate change, particularly the increase in sea surface temperature, has progressively affected the availability and sustainability of sardine stocks. This study evaluates the relationship between climatic variability and sardine catches in Al Hoceima between 2008 and 2023. Annual catch statistics were analyzed together with sea surface temperature trends obtained from GIS-based thermal analyses and climatic datasets. The results indicate a significant decrease in sardine catches after 2010, coinciding with rising temperatures and increasing thermal anomalies in the region. The warming trend appears to affect sardine reproduction, migration, and food availability, leading to reduced stock abundance. These findings confirm the vulnerability of Mediterranean small pelagic species to climate change and highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries management and environmental monitoring strategies.