Moroccan fish professionals against EU accord renewal
Morocco, Economics, 4/10/1999

Moroccan fisheries professionals on Friday unanimously opposed the renewal of the Moroccan-EU fisheries agreement, after its expiry in November 1999.

The fish industry operators who held their first colloquy in Tangiers (northern Morocco) said they are satisfied that the Moroccan government has announced its decision not to sign another agreement with the European Union and called for not signing similar agreements with any foreign country.

They further insisted on speeding up the creation of the "higher council for the safeguarding of sea resources" and called the national institute of research in sea resources to update its studies and research on fish stocks.

To make up for the loss of $ 162.6 million a year in fees paid by the European Union, the fish professionals said Morocco should endeavor to restructure the traditional fishing sector and improve its performance so as to attract the interest of insurance companies.

Fisheries Minister Thami Khiari earlier said the authorities had made "a sacrifice" by rejecting future EU fishing fees, which represent an important source of funding.

Morocco has around 3,500 km coastline rich in fish where the European fleet, dominated by Spanish trawlers, operate annually.

The Moroccan fishing industry generates more than $1.0 billion per year and employs some 400,000 people.

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