Research center for marine mammals protection to be built northern Morocco
Morocco, Environment, 8/10/2004

An ecological project on the protection of marine mammals, named "Dolphin Resort Ras Laflouka," will be built at Sidi Kankouch beach, in the Tangier region (northern Morocco) to observe dolphins in their environment.

The center is part of an eco-tourism project, sponsored by the Swiss "foundation for information and research on marine mammals" (FIRMM), that will cost 15 million DH ($1.6 million).

The tourist resort, to be built at Ras Laflouka bay on the Mediterranean coast, includes a research facility and an exhibition centre as well as a hotel, a restaurant, and bungalows for visitors.

The project, approved recently by the regional investment committee, consists of setting nets in Ras Laflouka bay so as to protect dolphins previously kept in captivity part of a transition and adaptation period before releasing them in the wild.

The Swiss foundation said "our main goal is to build a platform that would allow us to reintegrate dolphins in their environment, particularly big dolphins."

The foundation explains that the choice of Ras Laflouka was determined by the fact that free marine mammals often live close to the Moroccan Mediterranean coast where large groups of common, blue and white dolphins live all the year around.

The research centre, to be built by the foundation, will study cetaceans of the Mediterranean as well as their behaviour, and set a photo-identification base for marine mammals. Visitors of the site will have the opportunity to watch and observe the bay dolphins, to tuba dive and to perform other leisure activities.

Conference rooms of the centre will hold sessions to promote awareness on issues relating to whales and dolphins and the protection of their marine environment.

Ras Laflouka resort will also comprise a rescue unit to help grounded and stray sea animals.

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