Algerian coast stretches nearly 1,200 km, is characterized by a rocky nature, dotted with numerous small beaches which attracting a considerable number of people (over 16 million)  in summer season.

Fishery resources (pelagic species) are important but unfortunately this coast remains the receptacle of wastewater that flow in length year and that have degraded water quality and polluted the beaches.

"Marine pollution constitutes for two decades a strong concern universal problem. Today the threat is so heavy in consequences for the whole of the seas and oceans, and anxiety is so high in public opinion ".

There is 4  sources of marine pollution in the the Algerian coast:

1-urban and domestic sources: organic pollution, bacterial and viral

2-industrial sources: chemical pollution, thermal and radioactive

3-agricultural sources: phytosanitary pollutants, fertilizers, and organic waste from livestock

4-marine sources: liquid and solid discharges from ships

Since 1953, more than 8 international conventions were ratified on the Protection of the Mediterranean while the risk of coastal water pollution  is a serious threat.

Some forms of pollution can be considered a real threat to state security. The oil spilled in the Mediterranean is estimated at over 500,000 tons per year while 100 mg of hydrocarbon per cubic meter of water sufficient to render it unsuitable for fish and shellfish consumption. Zooplankton are killed at 0.01 ml per liter of petrol and phytoplankton at 1 ml.

Chemical pollution from industries is alarming because of the lack of adequate treatment of polluted water. Between 1984 and 1994 eight ship accidents were reported on the Algerian coast with a spill of 52,000 tons of various chemicals. More than 5,000 tonnes of mercury per year is dumped in the Mediterranean, the dose apply to fish is 0.7 mg per kg , and for the sea water, it should not exceed 3.10-5 mg per liter.