Europeans Assess Fisheries Talks with Morocco
Morocco-European Union, Economics, 6/16/2000

The evolution of talks between Morocco and the European Union on fisheries will be assessed at a meeting of the European Council this Friday in Luxembourg, European sources said.

European fisheries commissioner, Franz Fishler, will make a report on the talks with Morocco, the sources said, adding that technical talks are to start next July between the two sides.

Morocco on Wednesday denied any technical negotiations between Morocco and the European Union on fisheries.

"The difference between the two parties is still pending at the political level," Moroccan minister in charge of fisheries, Thami Khyari told the house of representatives (lower chamber of parliament).

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

Khyari underlined that "Morocco's decision not to renew the fisheries accord with the European Union is founded on objective reasons."

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

Morocco had told the Union 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 sea-food 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 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:
  Morocco denies fisheries technical negotiations with European Union   (6/15/2000)
  Moroccan northern fishery association opposed to any new fishery accord   (6/13/2000)
  Moroccan canned-fish exports recorded a 3 % increase in 1999   (6/13/2000)

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