European fisheries official in Morocco next week
Morocco-European Union, Politics, 5/9/2000

European fisheries commissioner, Franz Fishler, will visit Morocco next week to start a dialogue process between the European Union (EU) and Morocco on fisheries, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, announced in Tangiers Monday.

The Spanish official voiced hope that Fishler's visit to Morocco will "yield the expected results." He added that Madrid endeavors for a new form of fisheries cooperation with Morocco within the EU.

Morocco declined to renew a four-year fisheries accord with EU when it expired last November 30.

Under the accord, nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, used to operate in Moroccan waters.

Morocco had told the union that the two sides should seek a new partnership preserving the kingdom's sea resources, and Moroccan officials and fisheries professionals argue that the new partnership should seek the promotion of joint ventures in fisheries-related sectors such as shipyards, ships maintenance, and seafood processing, in addition to fish-farming.

Fisheries professionals argue that the non-renewal of the accord with the European Union would undoubtedly have a positive incidence on the fisheries sector, as the Moroccan fleet's catches would jump to 1.5 million tons in 2003, while these catches do not exceed 700,000 tons at present. Fish consumption in Morocco stands at only 7 kg per person per year while it exceeds 60 kg per person in Spain and Portugal.

The sector employs nearly 400,000 workers.

With national territorial waters extending over 1.2 million KM2 and with a 3,500 km long sea coast, Morocco has huge sea resources and harbors over 840 fish species. In 1998, Sea products exports have earned Morocco $740 million (7.4 billion Dirhams), recording an increase of 10% compared to the previous year.

Previous Stories:
  EU ambassador denies legal disputes with Morocco   (4/28/2000)
  No Youssoufi-Fischler meeting slated, says EC spokesman   (4/11/2000)
  EU set to make new fishery proposals   (4/6/2000)

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