Comparative study of pristine and polluted estuaries in Souss Massa National Park (Morocco): Implications for conservation strategies.

Estuaries are among the ecosystems most affected by human actions worldwide. Economic development in Morocco puts pressure on these aquatic systems, making them vulnerable. This study compares the state of benthic communities between a pristine estuary (Massa estuary) and a polluted one (Souss estuary). Both ecosystems belong to the Souss Massa National Park (SMNP), registered in the Ramsar list for its ecological importance as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Twenty-one benthic species were identified in the pristine estuary, but only six species in the polluted one. Similar differences were detected for the species abundance and biomass. The total organic matter and the water-dissolved oxygen also revealed a notable negative effect of the sewage discharge. The results confirmed human disturbances on faunal communities related to direct wastewater inputs and indirect anthropogenic activities such as the urbanization and the litter generation. A combination of ending wastewater discharge and adding tertiary-level water treatment plants is recommended. The findings highlight the importance of MPAs in conservation strategies if coupled with continuous surveillance of pollution. [Display omitted] • Study of benthic communities in two estuaries of a marine protected area (MPA) in Morocco • Significant difference found between pristine and polluted estuaries • Wastewater inputs influenced the load of organic matter and the dissolved oxygen. • Urgent addition/upgrading to tertiary-level water treatment plants and ending wastewater discharge is needed. • MPAs are effective if coupled with continuous surveillance of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]