In this episode of the UNESCO Green Citizens Podcast, discover how the destiny of the osprey bird inspired a fishing community to protect their threatened marine ecosystem.

Born in Fez, Morocco, UNESCO Green Citizen Houssine Nibani founded the AGIR association in 2008 with the aim of facilitating the management of resources in the Al-Hoceima National Park.

Situated on the Mediterranean Coast, this marine protected area covers 185 square miles and boasts a rich biodiversity, home to several rare and endangered species on the IUCN list. On the UNESCO Green Citizens podcast, Houssine recalls discovering Al-Hoceima in 1987, when he was posted there as a professor of Earth Life Science to observe the area’s ospreys. Known as “fish eagles”, these birds only eat fish, and their unique behaviour and physical characteristics, such as barbed feet pads and reversible outer toes, make them masterful at hunting their pray. It was through his observation of ospreys that Houssine realised the area’s fish population was diminishing, due to illegal fishing, overfishing and pollution.