Allowing Galicia ships into Moroccan waters, a royal donation not an accord

Morocco's King Mohammed VI's decision to allow Spanish ships into the Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone, is "a royal donation" meant to help Galician peoples affected by sunken tanker Prestige oil slick, said Morocco's Fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafès.

The Moroccan official, who was guest to a program aired Friday by Morocco's national radio, noted that the licenses issued in this regard are part of the implementation of the Royal decision that is "by no means an accord."

Spanish vessels, he added, "are not to fish anywhere, any species, but will be submitted to the same rules applied to Moroccan fishermen."

He further termed as "very good" his relations with the sector's professionals, emphasizing that his department is determined "to help while taking into consideration the general interest."

The ministry of fisheries is working on a fishing code that will be submitted soon to the parliament, he said, adding his department will initiate "necessary measures" to beef up the annual fish consumption average per capita, from 6 kg to 20.