Moroccan MPs want to reduce number of fishing licenses
Morocco, Economics, 1/7/2004

Moroccan MPs member of the House of Representatives' committee of productive sectors are seeking a reduction of traditional fishing licenses which they say are granted in an excessive manner, and consolidation of measures stipulated in the draft law regulating sea fisheries.

Committee chairman, Bachir Badalla, said the MPs who are reviewing a draft law on the sector -- adopted last Thursday by the Chamber of Advisors (upper parliamentary chamber)-- deem "weak" the present measures to crack down on offenders who exhaust sea resources.

He explained that criticism concerns mainly sanctions for fishing, storage, transportation and marketing of fish and other species from areas subjected to biological rest. Offenders face prison sentences and fines ranging between 50,000 and 1 million DH (between US$ 5,000 and US$ 10,000).

The MPs also want traditional fishing to be subjected to the same control in force for high sea fishing.

For fisheries minister, Taieb Rahfes, the text should mainly have a "dissuasion" role so that fishers adopt "rational and responsible" activities and stop abuses.

The draft will be submitted on Wednesday to the House.

Measures provided for in the draft concern storage, transportation and marketing in addition to freezing facilities and customs control.

The minister further called professionals to avoid over-exploitation of sea resources and diversify their activities.

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