Moroccan fisheries professionals reject proposal to set up joint ventures with E.U.
Morocco, Economics, 7/6/1999

Moroccan fisheries professionals have rejected the proposal to set up joint ventures with the European Union, as a mere attempt to continue and disguise the looting of Morocco's sea resources.

At a study day held over the weekend in cooperation with "the Euro-Mediterranean forum, dialogue and partnership 2010," chairman of the Moroccan federation of maritime fisheries, Abderrahim Laabidi, said that the proposal is meant to continue and disguise the looting of our sea resources and that the Europeans would be the only beneficiary of this new formula as the unloading of catches will not be operated in Moroccan ports. This formula would benefit some individuals at the expense of the state treasury, Laabidi said.

Morocco has officially announced that it will not renew the Morocco-European Union four-year fisheries accord when it expires in November 1999. Nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters under this accord.

For the Moroccan side, the Morocco-EU cooperation must seek another partnership formula, promoting joint ventures in fisheries-related sectors such as shipyards, ships maintenance, and sea-food processing, in addition to fish-farming.

Moroccan minister of the interior, Driss Basri, confirmed on Monday at a news conference in Rabat that the accord will not be renewed.

"It has been repeatedly said that there will be no renewal," Basri said. He added that Morocco which intends to exploit its own resources can resort to all those who are ready to help it, and does not exclude any nationality.

Moroccan fisheries professionals argue that the joint ventures, must be submitted to a tough control as to the volume and nature of catches. They must also unload their catches in Moroccan ports and must necessarily hire Moroccan seamen in equal numbers with the Europeans.

During the study day, Laabidi called for exploring new prospects to Morocco's cooperation in the sector of fisheries, mainly in the African continent and in the countries of the Arab Maghreb.

He underlined "the political and ecological" dimension of the fisheries issue and renewed the federation's opposition to any accord that would not guarantee Morocco's right to protect its sea resources and its environment.

Laabidi stated further 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. He noted that fish consumption in Morocco stands at only 7 KG per person per year while it exceeds 60 kg per person in Spain and Portugal.

He called on the concerned sides to promote the situation of the sector's nearly 400,000 workers and to open dialogue on their claims and grievances.

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, Guinea sign implementation protocol of fisheries accord   (7/5/1999)
  Moroccan minister meets officials of Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa   (7/2/1999)
  Guinea requests Morocco's assistance in fisheries   (6/30/1999)
  Moroccan-Hungarian talks on economic cooperation   (6/30/1999)
  Morocco will not renew fisheries accord with European Union, under same terms   (6/25/1999)

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