| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 452 | 150 | No | |||
| Freshwater | 40 | 20 | No | Daget, J., J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1984 | ||
| Total | 503 | 166 | No | |||
| Conservation | Soil erosion from poor farming practices and overgrazing, along with the pollution of rivers, coastal waters and, in particular, the Mediterranean Sea, are of great concern. Fresh water is scarce in Algeria, but per capita consumption is low. Protected areas cover 5 per cent (1992) of Algeria, which has ratified many of the global agreements on wildlife and habitat. Population growth is below average for Africa and continues to decline. The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Information on major aquatic habitats or sites within the country; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
Algeria has a surface area of 2,381,740 sq. km.. Most of the country (86%) is situated within the Sahara desert. In the north the Atlas Mountains, rising to a maximum elevation of 2,328 m asl, provide surface runoff to a narrow fertile coastal strip which support most of the population.
Summers are hot; winters are fairly mild. Rainfall is adequate along the coast, but the interior is dry with extremes of desert temperatures. The limited rainfall and runoff has fostered construction of storage dams to ensure adequate water supplies for crop irrigation. High salinities and irregular inflow limit the potential use of most natural lacustrine bodies. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |
| Hydrography |
Lakes: there are no important freshwater lakes. Several internal drainage basins possess salt lakes and marshes. The largest basin, containing Lakes Chott Melshir and Chott Merouane, has a total area of 61,000 sq. km. with a mean annual inflow of 0.90 cu. km. Sebkha d'Oran is a large salt lake (296 sq. km.) lying near the coast in the west. To the northeast is the Oubeira Lake, 21 sq. km. For most salt lake basins only a small proportion of the area has standing water.
Rivers, floodplains and swamps: there are eleven river ("oued") basins which discharge into the Mediterranean Sea from a combined catchment area of 132,910 sq. km. The largest is the Oued Chelif (29,300 sq. km catchment; 0.55 cu. km. discharge). There are two important floodplains; Garaet el Mkhada (89 sq. km) and Chott Zahrez Chergui.
Rivers, floodplains and swamps: there are eleven river ("oued") basins which discharge into the Mediterranean Sea from a combined catchment area of 132,910 sq. km. The largest is the Oued Chelif (29,300 sq. km. catchment; 0.55 cu. km. discharge). There are two important floodplains: Garaet el Mkhada (89 sq. km.) and Chott Zahrez Chergui.
Reservoirs: to date, some 21 large dams have been constructed. Most are for irrigation usage, and a smaller number produce hydroelectricity or supply municipalities. At present little fishery development has taken place in these reservoirs.
Coastal lagoons: there is some small lagoon in the extreme east of the country: Mellah. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |