Europe says fishery talks was constructive, moroccan fishery union concern

Talks of Wednesday and Thursday in Rabat by Moroccan and European Union delegations on fisheries were "constructive" and "progress" has been made, the European Commission spokesman said.

The two sides, went on the spokesman, examined components of their future fishery cooperation. He said the Rabat round was a new step towards a balanced and mutually beneficial cooperation accord and recalled how the European side expounded its answer to Moroccan proposals.

"We will do our best to wrap up talks the soonest possible," the spokesman said of discussions which are to resume November 21 in the European capital.

Meantime, the Moroccan Cephalopod Fishery Union (UPEC) voiced Thursday deep concern at the evolution of fishery talks with the European Union.

A "UPEC" release said the union warned the government of ecological, social and economic consequences of a fishing agreement with Brussels and voiced amazement at the stand of officials who have been hammering for a year actual fishing was not on the agenda.

If hundreds of trawlers have been crippled for months in a forced biological-rest, it was mainly because of dwindling fish resources, argued UPEC.