8.4 Living resources

8.4.1 Flora

The aquatic vegetation is characterized by endemic sea grass composed of eelgrass and Cymodocea. These habitats appear to host an important part of the Nador lagoon’s biodiversity and play an important role in preserving its biological diversity.

8.4.2 Aquatic fauna

Biodiversity in the Nador lagoon is relatively high. According to Zine (2003), there are about 374 invertebrate species in this paralic environment. These species consist mainly of mollusks (211 species, including 108 gastropods and 92 bivalves), crustaceans (74 species) and annelids (44 species). Fish species totalized at least 77 among marine and lagoon species, with a large proportion of migratory forms (eel, sea-bass, white bream, grey mullets, etc.).
Among these significant elements of biodiversity, 24 species have an important economic value, and some of them have been already bred, cultured and grown in this lagoon. The most important species are: European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus), Pacific cupped oyster (Crassostrea gigas), Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) among bivalves; Mediterranean prawn (Penaeus kerathurus) and Japanese shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) among shrimps and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), spotted sea-bass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) and snout sea-bream (Puntazzo puntazzo) among finfish. Three of these cultured species were introduced into the lagoon (Japanese prawn, Pacific cupped oyster and spotted sea bream).

8.4.3 Wildlife

The Nador lagoon is well known for its ornithological attraction. Species of birds frequenting this lagoon include dabbling ducks, flamingos and shorebirds. They are found in the containment areas (northwestern and southeastern lagoon-shores of the lagoon, salt marshes of Arkmane, Sansouires waters). Gulls make frequent moves between the sea and the lagoon; the latter is usually considered as a rest environment for these birds.